Trout Fest, Cook-off fun for all ages
The Lookin’ 4 Lunkers team, with members Chelsie Sledge, Halie Stokes and Jason Sledge (shown above, left to right), of Tulsa, took first place in the River to Table Trout Cook-off Saturday at Cassville’s Trout Fest. Their winning presentations are shown on page 8A. Photo by Sheila Harris.
The runner up in the River to Table Trout Cook-off was the Element 79 Media team, with local members Jeremiah Selby, Rebecca Couch and Steve Walensky (shown above, left to right). Their meal, which took second place, is shown on page 8A. Photo by Sheila Harris.
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River To Table Trout Cook-Off judges Joel Topham, Dr. Merlyn Johnson and Jon Horner (shown above, left to right) didn’t let a bite go to waste as they savored the meals prepared by cook-off contestants. Photo by Sheila Harris.
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September 22, 2021
Sheila Harris
Trout Fest, the second annual celebration of the fish that makes Roaring River - and by extension, Cassville - a popular vacation destination, took place Saturday in Cassville’s South Park, after an official post-game kick-off fireworks display Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.
In addition to a Trout Trot, Minnow Mile, cornhole tournament, kids’ activities, a rifle raffle, live music, a beer garden and plenty of vendor booths, this year’s second annual festival featured the debut of the River to Table Trout Cook-off.
Contestants were required to fetch their fresh-catch for meal preparation straight from the waters of Roaring River, prior to cooking it up in Cassville’s South Park by a method of their choice.
Good prizes were at stake as the three-person teams labored diligently over savory presentations, the scents of which made the mouths of fair-goers water.
Each team was required to prepare an entree and two side dishes using their fresh trout, plus the ingredients of a “Mystery Basket” issued to them at contest time.
Meals were judged by four criteria: texture, taste, creativity and presentation.
After tasting the first meal presented to him, contest judge Dr. Merlyn Johnson offered the prophetic comment, “This is going to be hard to beat.”
Indeed, it was. The Lookin’ 4 Lunkers team, comprised of members Halie Stokes and Chelsie and Jason Sledge, took first place in the competition with a meal consisting of Smoked Trout Chowder, Jerk Trout with homemade Jamaican seasoning and a colorful side salad of mixed greens.
The Lunkers team members hale from Tulsa, but spend much of their summers at Roaring River State Park, they said.
The Element 79 Media team, consisting of locals Jeremiah Selby, Rebecca Couch and Steve Walensky, also fared well. The team’s presentation of Smoked Trout Chowder, wild rice and succotash garnered it a second place finish.
With the help of many community “Lunker Sponsors,” The Cassville Chamber, Element 79 Media, Roaring River State Park and the City of Cassville have plans to grow Trout Fest and the River to Table Trout Cook-off in years to come. And the cook-off judges, it seems, will be clamoring to have another go on next year’s judicial panel.
“I’ve done a lot of community gigs,” said Judge Jon Horner, as he scooped the last drop from his bowl of smoked trout chowder, “but this was the best.”
Mary Collins, of Cassville, called the festival a success.
As winner of the raffle for a custom cera-koted AR-15 rifle donated by Quick Draw Gun, Chad Johnson, of Cassville, was well pleased with Trout Fest, too.
Sheila Harris
Trout Fest, the second annual celebration of the fish that makes Roaring River - and by extension, Cassville - a popular vacation destination, took place Saturday in Cassville’s South Park, after an official post-game kick-off fireworks display Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.
In addition to a Trout Trot, Minnow Mile, cornhole tournament, kids’ activities, a rifle raffle, live music, a beer garden and plenty of vendor booths, this year’s second annual festival featured the debut of the River to Table Trout Cook-off.
Contestants were required to fetch their fresh-catch for meal preparation straight from the waters of Roaring River, prior to cooking it up in Cassville’s South Park by a method of their choice.
Good prizes were at stake as the three-person teams labored diligently over savory presentations, the scents of which made the mouths of fair-goers water.
Each team was required to prepare an entree and two side dishes using their fresh trout, plus the ingredients of a “Mystery Basket” issued to them at contest time.
Meals were judged by four criteria: texture, taste, creativity and presentation.
After tasting the first meal presented to him, contest judge Dr. Merlyn Johnson offered the prophetic comment, “This is going to be hard to beat.”
Indeed, it was. The Lookin’ 4 Lunkers team, comprised of members Halie Stokes and Chelsie and Jason Sledge, took first place in the competition with a meal consisting of Smoked Trout Chowder, Jerk Trout with homemade Jamaican seasoning and a colorful side salad of mixed greens.
The Lunkers team members hale from Tulsa, but spend much of their summers at Roaring River State Park, they said.
The Element 79 Media team, consisting of locals Jeremiah Selby, Rebecca Couch and Steve Walensky, also fared well. The team’s presentation of Smoked Trout Chowder, wild rice and succotash garnered it a second place finish.
With the help of many community “Lunker Sponsors,” The Cassville Chamber, Element 79 Media, Roaring River State Park and the City of Cassville have plans to grow Trout Fest and the River to Table Trout Cook-off in years to come. And the cook-off judges, it seems, will be clamoring to have another go on next year’s judicial panel.
“I’ve done a lot of community gigs,” said Judge Jon Horner, as he scooped the last drop from his bowl of smoked trout chowder, “but this was the best.”
Mary Collins, of Cassville, called the festival a success.
As winner of the raffle for a custom cera-koted AR-15 rifle donated by Quick Draw Gun, Chad Johnson, of Cassville, was well pleased with Trout Fest, too.
At left, Chad Johnson, of Cassville, was the lucky winner of the customized AR-15 donated by Quick Draw Gun, of Cassville. Event co-organizer, Rachael Freeman, of Element 79 Media, offered congratulations.
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Shown above, the winning River to Table Trout Cook-off meal prepared by the Lookin’ 4 Lunkers team.
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Shown above, the second place River to Table Trout Cook-off meal prepared by the Element 79 Media team.
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