Thursday provided a culinary delight as wildlife enthusiasts from across the county gathered at the Covington Center Arena for the 2009 Wild Game Cook-Off.

Hunter Grimes, cook-off coordinator and team member from First South Farm Credit, said this was one of the most attended events he has ever seen.

“I estimate there were about 300 or so people who came out and enjoyed all the great food,” Grimes said. “The cook-off is always the first Thursday after Thanksgiving. This year, I was surprised at the number of people who attended since there was so much going on in Andalusia that night with the tree lighting ceremony and such.”

Participants were able to dine on such delights as “Dirty Shrimp and Grits,” “Turkey Trout Chili” and “Dirty Duck with Apple Core.”

This year’s overall winner was the Wild Boar Cookers, a.k.a. Burlin Findley, Chuck Downing, Tony Salter and Jake Gibbs, with their dish, Deer Steak with Mushroom Sauce.

Best presentation awards went to the Wild Ones (first place) and Jungle Nook Farms (second place).

Additionally, there were three categories, and the winners were as follows:

In the fish category: First place, Mark Hainds, Davey Sightler, Eddie Batson, Jimmie Stiles of D. C.’ Backwoods, with their dish, Shrimp Grouper and Grits; second place, Justin Sightler, Ray Bozeman, Mitch Thorn, Cory Williamson of X-tra Clean, with Shrimp and Grits with Tasso Ham Gravy, and third place, Jeff and Laquetta Grimes as the Dixie Dirt Duo, with their dish, Dirty Shrimp and Grits.

In the fowl category: first place, Hunter Grimes and Russell Walters as First South Farm Credit, with Dirty Quail with Tomato Pie; second place, Burlin Findley, Chuck Downing, Tony Salter, Jake Gibbs as the Wild Boar Cookers, with their dish, Turkey Trout Chili, and third place, Chuck Dutton, Mary Dutton, Ruck Ashworth and Patty Ashworth as the Bellwood Basters, with their dish, Dirty Duck with Apple Core.

In the game category, first place, Burlin Findley, Chuck Downing, Tony Salter, Jake Gibbs as the Wild Boar Cookers, with their Deer Steak with Mushroom Gravy; second place, Justin Sightler, Ray Bozeman, Mitch Thorn, Cory Williamson with X-tra Clean and their dish, Venison Grillades with Creamy Cheese Grits, and third place, Wayne Tew, Jody Lasiter, Telisha Atchison, Rob Martin of CDG Engineering and their dish, Apple Venison Roll-Ups.

“As always this event wouldn’t be a cook-off without the teams,” Grimes said. “They absolutely make this event, and our sponsors have been so good to us.”

Sponsors were First South Farm Credit, Foreman Funeral Home, Covington Heavy Duty Parts, Southern Independent Bank, Wachovia, Barnes Tire, Wright Manufacturing, Taylor Linen, X-tra Clean, Southeast Alabama Gas District, Sun South, PowerSouth Energy Co-Op, Covington Metal, Covington Electric Co-Op, Pharm-a-Care and CCB Community Bank.

Judges for the event were Blaine Wilson, Jeff Hopkins, Scott Cooper, JoAnn Jones, Jason Jewell and Scott Wright.