Turkey calling demonstration is new feature at Wild Game Dinner
Jim West
Tim Mullen
FRESNO – Do you make the best wings in Coshocton County? Impress the panel of judges at the Sixth Annual Tri-County Wing Contest and Wild Game Dinner at Chili Crossroads Bible Church on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. for a chance to be named the top three best wings in the county. Participants must make at least 20 wings to bring to the event.
If you like a little kick with your wings, consider entering the Atomic Wing Challenge. This challenge is not for the faint of heart and features some of the hottest wings you’ll ever taste. The church provides the wings and has two divisions: a junior division for those through age 12 and an adult division. Participants will have three to four minutes to eat as many hot wings as possible. The top three in each category will receive prizes and the winner will receive a trophy.
A new feature to the event this year will be wild turkey hunting and calling demonstrations by Tim Mullen and Jim West. Between the two, they have called and judged in events such as the US Open Championship and National Calling Championship. They have also worked together to organize and run the US Open Calling Championship at River View High School in 1991, 1992, and 1993.
“Since turkey season opens in mid-April, we thought it would be fun to offer something turkey-related to help people get in the right mood for the next hunting season,” said Pastor Neal Dearyan, pastor of Chili Crossroads Bible Church. “We like to keep it (the event) fresh. We always like to add something new to make it different or better than the year before.”
The Wild Game Dinner will have almost 100 lbs. of pork roasted outside and almost 100 lbs. of pork roasted at a local butcher shop. There will also be a whole deer roasted to enjoy. The community is invited to bring in food to share as well. Other food such as salad, potato dishes, desserts, and many others will be offered.
“We have eight tables literally bowing from the weight of all this food,” said Dearyan. “I tell people you can be a vegetarian and still leave with a full stomach.”
The event is free and the public is invited to attend. More people come each year and last year, Dearyan said at least 400 people came through the doors.
“We try to be creative and come up with events folks in the community will enjoy,” said Dearyan. “We believe that God is relevant and His word is relevant. We try to keep the church visible in the community. Every event we do has a focus on God and His gift to the world through His Son.”
Next year, the church is planning to have a turkey-calling competition on the Saturday before the Wild Game Dinner. The winner from that competition will do the demonstration for the dinner.
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places
