
While the cooking competition began in 1969, Hopkins County Stew is a tradition that dates back as early as the late 1800s. The county had approximately 100 schools then, and it became customary to celebrate the end of each school year with stew suppers cooked in iron pots over an open fire.
In those days, there were no recipes. Families just brought what they had and threw it in the pot.
The Hopkins County Stew Contest is about more than stew; it’s about the friends and families that gather, the lifelong bonds made over an open fire, and the collective efforts of so many amazing people that help keep this tradition alive. As we approach this year’s stew contest, we would like to thank our stew cooks, judges, volunteers, stew committee, and community for being part of such a special day in our local history.