The 53rd Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, sponsored by Alliance Bank drew a huge crowd, with long lines forming more than an hour before serving time, with people eager to pay their $8 to partake of the entries, despite the whipping autumn winds Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.
By the Numbers
“We prepare for 8,000 people and we were reaching our limit today. Judging from our ticket sales and supplies, we had about 7,500 people there today, which is a terrific turnout. We had 167 cook sites participating, with about half of those being chicken, about 30 in the super stew category and more than 40 in the beef category,” Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Butch Burney said.
Dubb and the Luv Machines provided entertainment throughout the festival, often calling on people in the community to let their talents and sense of humor shine.
For instance, while many cook teams were finishing packing up their camp sites and others awaiting the announcement of the stew winners, the three SSHS HOSA sponsors good-naturedly agreed to lip-synch to Shania Twain’s Feel Like a Woman, after two HOSA members took a bit of ribbing for their head-gear. They wore chickens to signify the chicken stew they prepared and entered in the Stew Festival.
Ms. Texas Senior Classic Vender Wright got in on the fun, performing a spirited rendition of “Lean On Me.”
A group of youth took advantage of the cooler temperature to gather in an open area near the stage to toss around a football. Others could be seen doing a cartwheel here and there, dancing or trailing their parents through the line, hopping around excitedly when they recognized family and friends.
Acknowledgements
Of course, in addition to the many teams and businesses, churches and organizations that paid their entry fees, the Stew Festival would not be possible without cooperative efforts of so many, from sponsors to volunteers.
Alliance Bank was the 2022 Stew Festival Title Sponsor, and Bob Evans Foods the Friday night sponsor.
Service tents were generously provided by ProSlab Foundation Repair, Hopkins County Dental, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and Coldwell Banker Watson Company.
Burney offered thanks too to all of the volunteers, without whom things would not have run nearly as smoothly.
Among the volunteers were members of the SSHS Blue Blazes, SSHS HOSA, Hopkins County High School Leadership Class, Sulphur Bluff Beta Club, HKK volunteers, and Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Ambassadors. Dairy Festival Queen Colbie Glenn assisted the Chamber Stew Crew in handing out awards and getting winners all set for team and media photos.
STEW WINNERS
Of course the thing everyone was waiting for, the announcement of the winners of the stew contests, campsite contests and tailgate appetizer Contest.
Chicken Super Stew Contest
Winning first place in the super stew chicken contest was team #484, Kylie Smith and Katie Brown, sponsored by Financial Solutions. Their prize money of $500 was provided by GDC Industrial. Their winning quart of Super Stew Chicken was purchased for $900 by Clayton Homes.
Kylie Smith and Katie Brown, sponsored by Financial Solutions, First Place Super Stew Chicken Winners 
Lawana Hohenberger and Broc Hohenberger, sponsored by Bulkley Trucking, Second Place Super Stew Chicken Winners 
Nancy Fite and Larry Fite, sponsored by Berry Appraisal, Third Place Super Stew Chicken Winners 
Dale Owens and Marci Owens, sponsored by SSHS Class of 1978, Honorable Mention Super Stew Chicken
The second place super stew chicken award was won by team #125, Lawana Hohenberger and Broc Hohenberger, Sponsored by Bulkley Trucking. Their prize money of $250 was sponsored by the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram. The second-place Super Stew Chicken was purchased for $500 by One Church.
The third place super stew chicken award was won by team #29, Nancy Fite and Larry Fite, sponsored by Berry Appraisal. Their prize money of $100 was sponsored by Heath Hyde, Attorney. Their third-place Super Stew Chicken was purchased for $300 by One Church.
Honorable Mention in the super stew chicken contest went to team #138, Dale Owens and Marci Owens, sponsored by SSHS Class of 1978.
Beef Super Stew Contest
The first place super stew beef winner was team of #123, Brent Williams and Mariam Williams, sponsored by Bulkley Trucking. Their prize money of $500 was provided by Sulphur Springs Nottingham Dodge. Their winning quart of Super Stew Beef was purchased for $900 by Interstate Body Shop.
First Place Super Stew Beef Winners 
Brent Williams and Mariam Williams, sponsored by Bulkley Trucking, First Place Super Stew Beef Winners 
Joe Wallace and Craig Hale, Sponsored by Saputo, Second Place Super Stew Beef Winners 
Third Place Super Stew Beef Winners 
John Wilburn and Rudy Ellis, sponsored by Simply Eventful Wedding Planning, Third Place Super Stew Beef Winners 
John Wilburn and Rudy Ellis, sponsored by Simply Eventful Wedding Planning, Third Place Super Stew Beef Winners 
Garrett Glass and Laura Glass, sponsored by Guaranty Bank and Trust, Honorable Mention Super Stew Beef
Second place Super Stew Beef award was won by the cooks at site#52A, Joe Wallace and Craig Hale, sponsored by Saputo. Their prize money of $250 was sponsored by the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram. The second-place Super Stew Beef was purchased for $500 by Oncor Electric Delivery.
The third place super stew beef award was won by team #15, John Wilburn and Rudy Ellis, sponsored by Simply Eventful Wedding Planning. Their prize money of $100 was sponsored by Jiffy Signs. Their third-place Super Stew Beef was purchased for $300 by Jiffy Signs.
Honorable mention in the super stew beef contest went to the cooks at site #468, Garrett Glass and Laura Glass, sponsored by Guaranty Bank and Trust.
Chicken Stew Contest
The first place chicken stew winner was team #14, Brent Tanton and Kallie Tanton, sponsored by CPI Technologies. Their prize money of $300 was provided by Sulphur Springs Nottingham Dodge. Their first-place chicken stew was purchased for $600 by Atmos Energy.
The second place chicken stew winner was the team from site #21, Cole Burnett and Benny Darlin, sponsored by Hooten’s Hardware. Their prize money of $150 was provided by Texas Modern Gastroenterology. Their second-place chicken stew was purchased for $450 by Essential Business Solutions.
Brent Tanton and Kallie Tanton, sponsored by CPI Technologies, First Place Chicken Stew Winners 
Cole Burnett and Benny Darlin, sponsored by Hooten’s Hardware, Second Place Chicken Stew Winners 
Third Place Chicken Stew Winners 
Kristen Richmond and Charlie Usry, sponsored by Discount Wheel and Tire of Sulphur Springs, Third Place Chicken Stew Winners 
Jo Lawson, half of the Chicken Stew Cook Team receiving Honorable Mention 
Jo Lawson and Joretta Lawson, sponsored by Nor-Tex Tractor, Honorable Mention Chicken Stew
The third place chicken stew winner was team #211, Kristen Richmond and Charlie Usry, sponsored by Discount Wheel and Tire of Sulphur Springs. Their prize money of $100 was provided by Super Handy Convenience Stores. Their third-place stew was purchased for $250 by Texas Heritage National Bank.
Honorable Mention in the chicken stew contest went to team # 213, Jo Lawson and Joretta Lawson cooks, sponsored by Nor-Tex Tractor.
Beef Stew Contest
The First place beef stew winner was the team from camp site # 477, Kelly Perry and Colton Williams, sponsored by EMC Hauling Co. Their $300 prize money was provided by Texas Modern Gastroenterology Their first-place stew was purchased for $600 by Republic Services.
Second place beef stew winner was team# 89 Greg Cravens and Stacy Cravens, sponsored by Ocean Spray. Their $150 prize money was provided by Texas Modern Gastroenterology. Their second-place stew was purchased for $450 by Essential Business Solutions.
Kelly Perry and Colton Williams, sponsored by EMC Hauling Co., First Place Beef Stew Winners 
Greg Cravens and Stacy Cravens, sponsored by Ocean Spray, Second Place Beef Stew 
Betty Edwards and Dustin Edwards, sponsored by Greenhill Villas-Mount Pleasant and Curry-Welbourn Funeral Home, Third Place Beef Stew Winners 
David Slaughter and Josh Hill, sponsored by Slaughters BBQ. Honorable Mention Beef Stew Winners
Third place beef stew winner was team # 31, Betty Edwards and Dustin Edwards, sponsored by Greenhill Villas and Mount Pleasant and Curry-Welbourn Funeral Home. Their $100 prize money was provided by Super Handy Convenience Stores. Their third-place stew was purchased for $250 by Texas Heritage National Bank.
Receiving a medal for Honorable Mention in the beef stew contest was team # 478 David Slaughter and Josh Hill, sponsored by Slaughters BBQ.
Campsite Contests
The John Chester Award for Super Campsite winner was site #210 Juan and Ashley Ortiz, sponsored by The Rustic O. Their $250 prize was provided by Sulphur Springs Nottingham Dodge.
The Campsite and Costume winner this year was site #202 Rebecca Loper and Linda Goss, sponsored by Bob Evans Farms. Their $200 prize was provided by Sulphur Springs Nottingham Dodge.
Juan and Ashley Ortiz, The Rustic O, Super Campsite Winners 
Rebecca Loper and Linda Goss, sponsored by Bob Evans Farms, Campsite Winners 
Rebecca Loper and Linda Goss, sponsored by Bob Evans Farms, Campsite and Costume Winners 
Rebecca Loper and Linda Goss, sponsored by Bob Evans Farms, Campsite and Costume Winners
Tailgate Appetizers
First place in the Tailgate Appetizer Contest was prepared at site #13 by Debbie White and Ann Tanton, sponsored by Hopkins-Rains County Farm Bureau. Their $200 prize was provided by City National Bank
Second place in the Tailgate Appetizer Contest was prepared at site #30, with Jim Teetes and Luke Kerby as cooks; they were sponsored by Cross Country Communications. Their $100 prize was provided by AK Gillis and Son.
The Tailgate Appetizer Contest third place award went to site #126 cooks Trey Clark and Drew Smith, sponsored by Safety Control. Their $75 prize was provided by Natalie’s Food Mart.
