Get ready for some great food and fun times!  The United Way of Central Louisiana and its partner agencies will hold the 10th Annual United Way Wild Cook-Off on Friday, August 20th, at the levee amphitheatre in downtown Alexandria.  This year’s event is being held about six to eight weeks earlier than usual, so if you and your team are waiting around to enter, don’t wait any longer!  Do it now!  Another change this year is the addition of Ribs as a category all their own.  This brings the number of categories to four: Ribs, Cajun, Barbecue and Wild Game. 

The entry fee is $100 for the first entry, and $75 per entry after that.  Each team receives five Wild Cook-Off aprons, and the city of Alexandria provides two tables and five chairs for each team.  Entries must be received by August 6th to guarantee a place for your team on the apron.  Register by calling Debbie Jarred at the United Way office at (318) 443-7203, extension 6. 

Even if you’re not entering a team, you can still wander the levee and get free samples of the food!  What’s not to like?  Each team asks for a donation as a ‘vote’ for your favorites, and the team with the most money donated at the end of the day wins the “People’s Choice” award.  All donations go to the United Way of Central Louisiana campaign, which funds services in nine parishes around Central Louisiana. 

Teams can start cooking as early as 8:00am, and judging begins at 4:30pm.  Winners will be announced – and trophies handed out – around 6:00pm.  We’ll have a brief program at noon, highlighting people who Live United around our community.  One is Brooks Harris of Brooks Harris Wealth Management, who’s chairing the campaign this year.  Another is Janine Allen of Bancorp South, who has chaired the Cook-Off for the past two years and helped strengthen it tremendously. 

For more information, or to find out the facts about the United Way of Central Louisiana, visit our website at www.uwcl.org or call me directly at (318) 443-7203, extension 5.