STOCKTON, Ala. — Stockton’s Wild Game Cook-off Saturday brought 26 cooks for the wild-game category and four for the camp-cooking category to battle behind burners, fryers, grills and crock pots, along with approximately 100 attendees.

George Riley, Stockton Civic Club’s director of cooks, said the judges would have their work cut out for them.

“There’s a lot of good seafood dishes,” he said in an interview at the event. “One has been marinating his shrimp for two days. And fried quail, that ain't going to be nothing to miss.”

Hiram Templeton, a wild-game judge and Stockton resident, agreed.

“All of the venison stews were excellent, and the fried quail was excellent,” he said. “It’s always an experience to see everybody and have a good time.”

Camp-cooking judge Bob James, of Fairhope,  said that the selection was difficult.

“It was all good,” he said. “I could’ve eaten them all. And the jalapeno was good — oh, it was stuffed with chicken, wrapped in bacon and battered. It was something you could just pick up and eat at the camp while you have a beer.”

Fellow  camp-cooking judge Tucker Dorsey, of Summerdale, also reflected on the dishes.

“My favorite was the fried jalapeno,” he said. “I’m talking about slap yo’ mama good. Plus, John Earl Steadham, he won it two years in a row with barbecued raccoon.”

Steadham said has entered the competition since its inception nine years ago, and this year, he roasted wild hog.

“It was killed half a mile from here,” he said.

Chuck Eubanks has been cooking in the event since its beginning, also.

“It's local, and everybody here just tries to support it,” he said.

With a bowl of award-winning crab jubilee in hand, attendee Lynn Parmer commented on the event that was sponsored by the Stockton Civic Club.

“It's my first time, and it's a lot of fun,” she said. “There’s a lot of good dishes. My favorite was the shrimp gumbo.”

The event, which raised funds for the continued upkeep of the Old Stockton Schoolyard Park, also included music provided by the Unknown Bluegrass Band and a silent auction.

Wild-game winners

* First place, Steve and Cheryl Westbrook, grilled venison

* Second place, Mattie Wilson, crab jubilee

* Third place Shane Bowden, fried quail

Camp-cooking winners

* First place, Angela Hannan, sweet potato chili

* Second place, Allen Nix, smothered brisket

* People’s choice, Mattie Wilson, crab jubilee