World Champion Squirrel Cook Off coming to Arkansas this September

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ROGERS (KATV) — The World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off is coming to Springdale next month.

The family-friendly extravaganza is returning after a three-year hiatus caused by COVID-19.

Festivities will kick off at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center at 9 a.m. on Sep. 7.

Event planner and cooking contest veteran Joe Wilson saID he's been preparing all year to make the cook-off memorable.

“We’re always up to try something new and keep things fresh,” Wilson said. “We’re not sure exactly how everything will turn out, but we know it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The cook-off will consist of 40, three-person teams. Teams will begin smoking and grilling their squirrels at 9 a.m. and present their dishes to a panel of judges at noon.

Isn't it a standard event when you marry your first cousin in Arkansas?

If this was closer, I’d so be there.

Aren't squirrels high in cholesterol?

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Originally posted by smschulz:
Isn't it a standard event when you marry your first cousin in Arkansas?

No, but it us when you divorce her to marry her mom.

quote:

Originally posted by petr:
Aren't squirrels high in cholesterol?

No, they’re typically high in the trees.

Just curious - are these farmed squirrels? Wild caught? Bring your own?

40 teams? I wonder how many squirrels we're talking about here....

Anybody tried squirrel before? What's it like? Chicken?

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Originally posted by konata88:
Anybody tried squirrel before? What's it like? Chicken?

I've had the big eastern grey and fox squirrels and they weren't bad. Decent survival food should the need arise.

The little ones around these parts are nasty. I'd eat 'em, but only if necessary.

Ate squirrel as a kid, little buggers taste good!
Now I feed them in my backyard while grilling Steaks!
Wife won't eat it, and subsequent won't let me dust 'em!

Dear Sigforum,

We aren't all hillbillies. I promise.

Sincerely,
An Arkansan

True story. My dad, with my assistance, tried making squirrel Jerky. Don't. Do. That. Couldn't cut it with a hatchet.

Wait for the Possum cookoff! Them's some fine ettin'

And we don't have any Javalina.

Squirrel gravy and biscuits are very tasty.

Hour and a Half.
Might head up there...

Haven't seen Fox squirrels around these parts in decades, just grays.

Did as a kid first animal I hunted. It’s a dark meat. Much better tasting than Minneapolis Rat.

I wonder if there's a way to incorporate the squirrel catapult into the contest...

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World Champion Squirrel Cook Off

How do they manage spatulas etc. with those tiny paws?

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Originally posted by wcb6092:
Squirrel gravy and biscuits are very tasty.

Growing up my grandfather would make squirrel stew. Tasted fine, IIRC.

One night when Doc Steve and I were leaving a nice steakhouse, he looked at some pretty people walking in, squinted with one eye and said "You gotta try the fried squirrel and taters tonight, they was scrumptious".

I grew up hunting and eating squirrel. I had no problem eating it, and neither did my family. Momma usually fried it, but Grandma baked it with vegies.. On a good Sat. morning, I could get 3-5 of the furry rats.