Vying for Pike County camp stew braggin’ rights begins when the crockpots heat up at the Goshen Town Hall annex on Friday.

From Dec. 4, 2009 until around the same time next year, someone will wear the “ladle” as King of Camp Stew.

“This will be our sixth year for the Camp Stew Cookoff and it should be a good one,” said Carter Sanders, organizer of the event.

“We’ve only had two winners in five years. The Rhodes brothers, Carroll and Danny, won the title the first three years and Johnny Taylor wrestled it away from them the past two years. Carroll and Danny will be out to dethrone Johnny and he will be determined to keep the title.”

But lurking somewhere among the pots and pans, there are several folks that believe they can out cook the lot of them.

Sanders said he expects there to be several worthy challengers and the competition should be hot and heavy.

“All entries need to be in and ready for judging by 4:45 Friday,” Sanders said.

“There’s no entry fee and the rules are simple — make it and bring it.

“It’s best to bring the camp stew in a crock pot so it will stay warm. And, there’s some disagreement as to the definition of camp stew. Generally, if it has green peas or butter beans in it, it’s not considered camp stew.”

However, Sanders said green in the stew doesn’t mean that it will be disqualified.

“As long as the English peas or butter beans are not overpowering and, if it’s the best tasting camp stew in the cookoff, it can win,” Sanders said. “

We encourage everyone who thinks that their camp stew is ‘the best’ to step up to the plate and give these former winners a run for their money.”

Pre-registration is not required and there is no entry fee.

The winner will receive a prize and have camp stew braggin’ rights for an entire year.