Eupora’s second Crawfish Cookoff proved to be a roaring success this past weekend, drawing in crowds from across the region to celebrate the beloved crustacean and indulge in mouthwatering dishes.
With 11 competing teams, around 450 attendees and a whopping 1,500 pounds of crawfished cooked, Saturday’s event at the Eupora Civic Center was a testament to the community’s passion for good food and good times.
From seasoned veterans to enthusiastic newcomers, the cookoff saw a diverse range of participants eager to showcase their culinary prowess. Each team brought its own unique flavors and techniques to the table, ensuring that there was something to please every palate.
Attendees were treated to a feast for the senses as the air filled with the tantalizing aroma of Cajun spices and boiling crawfish. From traditional boils to innovative fusion dishes, there was no shortage of culinary delights to sample and savor.
But the cookoff was about more than just food — it was also a change for the community to showcase its local pride and highlight the exceptional quality of life it offers with events such as this.
“It’s events like these that really bring our community together” said Mayor Lamar Dumas, who was in attendance with his family. “It’s wonderful to see so many people out enjoying themselves and supporting local talent.”
In addition to satisfying hungry appetites, the cookoff also served as a fundraiser for the Eupora Economic Development non-profit, Eupora Rotary Club and the Webster County Bulldogs, which is the city’s youth tackle football program.
Proceeds will go toward important causes in the community. By coming together to enjoy delicious food and good company, attendees were able to make a positive impact and give back to the community.
The Eupora Crawfish Cookoff is a sanctioned event by the newly formed “Southern Crawfish Cookoff Association,” a collaboration between Stalekracker and The Crawfish Critic. The significance of sanctioning the “Eupora Crawfish Cookoff” event lies in its ability to attract more teams and attendees to future cookout events. Teams accrue points from each sanctioned event in hopes to qualify for the big Super Boil Championships in 2025.
The Eupora Crawfish Cookoff SCCA crawfish team winner was A&S Transport LLC. People’s Choice winner went to Badlands Crawfish. SCCA’s second-place winner was TBT Market & Grill Mathiston while third place went to the Southern Mud Bugs team.
Josh Whitlock, president of Eupora Rotary Club, and Janet Cook, executive director of Eupora Economic Development 501c3, briefed the Eupora Board of Alderman during its midmonth meeting Monday, April 15, about the impact of the event in the community.
They explained to the board that securing Southern Crawfish Cookoff Association sanctioning for the Eupora Crawfish Cookoff will significantly boost the number of competing teams because of points being awarded within the sanctioning program. Whitlock stated the previous weekend at another SCCA-sanctioned crawfish event, 54 crawfish teams competed, over 12,000 attended and over 17,000 pounds of crawfish was cooked.
This also was a major fundraiser for both organizations and the Webster County Bulldogs, with the latter raising $481.
As the sun set on another successful crawfish cookoff, organizers and attendees alike were already looking forward to next year’s event. With its winning combination of great food, lively entertainment provided by The Garrett Oswalt Band and community spirit, it’s no wonder that the Eupora Crawfish Cookoff has become a beloved tradition for locals and visitors alike.
