Features Editor

If you’ve been hankering for hog hasslet, squirrel stew or possum ‘n taters or craving coon stew, alligator tails or mountain oysters, start licking your chops because all of that and more be on the table at the Wild Game Supper Saturday night in Grady.

The Wild Game Supper is hosted by South Montgomery County Academy and this year, the fifth, promises to be the biggest ever.

While the supper vittles are cooking

the fun is already underway.

The turkey shoot begins at noon and, this year, youth only rounds have been added for those 15 and under. So, any good shot has a "good shot" at taking home a turkey, ham or a slab of bacon, no matter what the age.

The silent auction will open when the first "turkey" shot is fired. The auction includes a large variety of items including dozens of "sure wants" for those who enjoy the outdoors. Framed wildlife prints, homemade knives, custom-made gun cabinets and a few guns are just some of the items up for bid.

At 1 p.m., everyone will want to gather around for the antique tractor show and pull. The tractors are things of beauty and interest and the pull is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

The highly anticipated turkey calling contest starts at 3:30.

Stan Sikes, coordinator of the event, said trophies and gift certificates will be awarded in the youth division for first and second place.

In the hunter, pro and owl calling divisions, winners will receive $200 and a trophy. The runners up will receive $100 and a trophy. There is no entry fee for the turkey and owl calling contests and all callers are encouraged to enter.

Half the fun of the Wild Game Supper is watching the cooks at work and listening to their tales of how they got the possum in the pot and the squirrel in the stew.

If you’re lucky, they will share a sample or two, just as appetizers for what’s to come when the supper bell rings.

In addition to the previously mentioned menu items, there will be quail, wild turkey, duck gumbo, fried rabbit, catfish, venison roll-ups, fried chicken, Jambalaya and a few other country gourmet main dishes. Sides include rice, greens, black-eyed peas, cheese grits and fried cornbread and a table full of desserts.

Supper tickets are a donation of $25 and there’s nowhere else in the world that a diner could go and get a meal like that for such a good price.

All proceeds from the supper will benefit the school’s building programs.

"The South Montgomery County Academy Wild Game Supper is a fund-raiser and a fun-raiser. So, come out and have good time, eat some great food and support a worthy cause," Sikes said.

From Troy, take the Shellhorn Road to Shady Grove, turn right to Grady and follow your nose to the school.