Cook-off judges Eddie Hartwick and Robert Campbell had high praise for the 40th Annual Whole Hawg Days, and they weren’t just talking about the chefs but the whole hawg, the fans, the car show, the arts and crafts festival.
“The whole event was great,” said Hartwick, a chef from Oklahoma City.
“We’ve been to events where it was hard to get through the day, but not this one,” said Oklahoma City restaurateur Campbell. “We don’t live in Eufaula, but we love Eufaula. This is our favorite contest to do every year. Everybody is friendly.”
And the pork competition is amazing.
“This year was the best, straight across the board,” said Hartwick. “You guys have gotta know, that pork loin and ribs you turned in were some of the best I’ve ever eaten anywhere in any competition.”
Not only was the meat high quality, but the overall preparation was superb.
It might have had something to do with the weather.
Last year the temperatures were in the triple digits. This year they were 90 and cooler.
“You get it nice and cool like last night (Friday), you can regulate the (cooking) heat better, which is the way you want it, without having to fight the heat on the outside as well as the heat inside of the cookers. I don’t know how you were able to cook last year.”
There were 25 entries in this year’s cook-off and about a dozen chefs representing them in the competition.
This year Chef Charlie Urquhart was the outstanding cook. He and his crew represented seven entries, and three of those placed first, second and third. His team also captured People’s Choice Awards for best side dish, best dessert, and best ribs.
The only category Charlie didn’t win was People’s Choice Meat, which was won by the Eufaula Fire Department.
Those on the fire department’s team included Chief Chad French, Assistant Chief Jamie Upton, Windle Ballard, Hollis Ballard and Lee Vitoux Jr.
This year the Chamber of Commerce added a People’s Choice category to the cook-off. For a $10 fee, BBQ fans could select their favorite meat, side dish and dessert. With the winning cooks receiving $200 in each category. Two-hundred aspiring food critics entered the event.
People’s Choice Best Ribs went to the Bank of Eufaula; Best Dessert, Sam Wampler Ford and Best Meat Eufaula Fire Department.
While the cook-off is the essence of Whole Hawg Days, many other popular events have evolved over the years.
The Friday night Whole Hawg Days Parade attracted a huge crowd of on-lookers as well as a lot of floats. Again, the relatively mild weather is being credited with the success, along with statewide advertising for the festival.
Dogface Lawn Solutions won the first-place trophy; Women in a Boat second; Bee Well Family Health third and golf cart dressed like a pig, fourth.
The Whole Hawg Days Poker Run drew a lot of entries this year – 438.
Belinda Tidwell of Eufaula had the luck of the draw and took home $17,452 for first place.
Robert Odom, Checotah, was in 2nd place and took home $7,500.
The Chamber of Commerce Whole Hawg Days Car Show was as popular as ever. Almost 80 vehicles, old and new, of dozens of makes and models, hot rods, pickups, motorcycles packed Kiwanis Park Saturday.
The Eufaula Indian Community held its events at the EIC Center, where there were arts and crafts as well as chair volleyball.
And last, but definitely not least, was the arts and crafts fair at Posey Park, where vendors sold their products, youngsters rode ponies and merry go rounds and played in bouncy houses and water slides.
