Nancy Fite & Becky Berry
Win 2005 World Champion
Hopkins County Stew Title

by: Bobby McDonald

Front Row, Nancy Fite and Becky Berry accept the trophy as the 2005 winners of the World Champion
Hopkins County Stew Contest, from Stew Chairman James Vanwinkle. Their husbands, Larry and Rickey
look from behind and helped them "clinch" the win.

In what began as a very "cool" morning, stew cookers gathered 'round the pot and began adding secret ingredients on Saturday morning, as temperatures were some of the lowest recorded for the season. As the sun rose, smoke could be seen filtering through the air and the aroma of Hopkins County's trademark culinary delight could be smelled wafting on the air. Folks were gathered around the pot peeling potatoes, chipping onions, and stirring their concoctions with large wooden paddles, just the way the pioneers did it out in the country.

Don Sapaugh stirs this pot of stew sponsored by City National Bank.
He later "changed hats" and served as the auctioneer for the 2005
Stew Contest and hawked bidders to purchase the award winning stew.

And, this team headed by Carolyn Cerretani created such an atmosphere, they were awarded the
Johnny Chester Memorial Super Campsite Award, by the judges.

Dutch ovens of cobbler could be found cooking around many campsites, where entire families
gathered to share in the stew making and visiting that took place at each campsite.

Cheyenne Chester, center, is surrounded by those who helped here "carry out the family tradition"
of cooking stew in memory of her father, Johnny Chester, a longtime participant in the Hopkins
County Stew Contest. Johnny Chester cooked for the last time in the 2004 contest and passed away
in November 2004.

It's all over but the tastin'........This cook has her stew on to simmer and pauses for
a break to taste her concoction, before the judges arrive.

James Vanwinkle, right, 2005 Stew Contest Committee Chairman, takes a brief moment to relax and
seek-out the advice of his father, Rip Vanwinkle, left, during the hectic schedule on Saturday.

And, this beautiful handmade quilt, called "In The Heart of The Cabin" was one of eleven
quilts that were auctioned by the Lone Star Quilters to raise money for their program. Pat
Gerald of Professional Land & Title Company purchased this beauty for $600.00 in the auction
that preceded the naming of the stew contest winners.

"At the feet of the masters"......One may ask how we grow stew cooks in
Hopkins County? These five children, the sons and daughters of 1st Place
Chicken Stew Winners, Heath Horton, Jerry Wayne Blount, and John Mark McAfee, were on hand
to learn how it was done, for Saturday's contest. Is there a future winner in the crowd?

And, Monica Littlefield, right, stirs her pot while visiting with friends during Saturday
morning activities. A former Chamber of Commerce President, Monica enjoyed just
having to worry about cooking, and not being involved in ticket sales, judging, and the
variety of activities that it takes to sponsor the stew contest.

Meanwhile, in the judges' tent, Sulphur Springs Mayor, Clay Walker, joined State Representative
Mark Homer, as they sampled all the stew and helped to decide who had the best pot.

And The Winners Were:

2005 Stew Contest Winners

1st Place Beef Stew - Glen Hamilton Team
2nd Place Beef Stew - J. Ken Orr and Fulton Vaughn
3rd Place Beef Stew - Reggie McDonald & Coca Cola Team

1st Place Chicken Stew - Jerry Wayne Blount, Heath Horton, & John McAfee
2nd Place Chicken Stew - Lake Pointe Baptist Church - Sharon Sink
3rd Place Chicken Stew - Heath Anderson & Baucom Insurance

Campsite Winner - Don Meeks Team
Super Campsite Winner - Carolyn Cerretani Team

2005 World Champion Stew Cooks
Nancy Fite and Becky Berry!

 

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