By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Those with a taste for the outdoors can get their fill at the Tri-County Wild Game Cooking Championship and Hunting and Fishing Expo Sept. 29.

The Montevallo Chamber of Commerce will give outdoor enthusiasts the chance to see gear and equipment, as well as sample freshly cooked game, fish and fowl.

“It’s a new event, and we wanted to do something out on Highway 25,” said Mary Lou Williams, executive director of the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce. “Those businesses are important to the city of Montevallo. Their taxes provide a lot of city revenue, and we wanted to do something to support those businesses and celebrate that part of our city.”

The expo will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. between Tractor Supply, located at 4633 Alabama 155 in Montevallo and the neighboring Huddle House.

The expo will include vendors from the summer farmers market, as well as outdoor sports equipment for hunting and fishing.

Williams said Carey Baird of On Site Sharpening will be available to sharpen knives, garden tools, scissors or “anything a homeowner or hunter would have that needs a good, sharp blade.”

Judging for the cooking championship will take place at 2 p.m., and guests will be invited to sample the prepared food from 3-5 p.m.

“Cook teams can enter all three, one or two of the categories,” Williams said. “There will be first place and runner up trophies in each category, as well as an overall trophy for overall display.”

Trophies, created by local artist Andy Cummings, will be presented to first place and runner-up in each of three categories, including fowl, fish and game.

The judges for the event, which is presented by Boatright Companies, will be Joseph Mitchell, program director for the Culinary and Hospitality Institute at Jefferson State Community College, Michael Patton, owner of Eclipse Coffee and Books and faculty member of the University of Montevallo, and Kit Waters of Fine Art Services.

Tickets are available for $10 at the chamber office, which is located at 720 Oak Street. For more information, call Williams at 665-1519.