Celebrity Cook-Off

Vic Grider

South Pittsburg High School's Head Football Coach Vic Grider will have autographed items from the Pirates' 2007 State Championship during the Celebrity Cook-off Sunday, April 26 beginning at 1:30 p.m. An auction will also be held, with Paula Deen Gift Baskets, sports memorabilia and other items up for bid. Proceeds from the Celebrity Cook-off and Auction benefit the Marion County Children's Fund.

Hosted by the Marion County Children’s Fund, the Celebrity Cook-off and Auction provides much-needed resources for the area’s foster children. This year’s events will be held on Sunday, April 26 in the competition area on 2nd street.

The 2009 Celebrity Cook-off and Auction will start at 1:30. The winners will be announced on Citizen's Stage at 4:30.

Unlike the National Cornbread Cook-off and 4-H Cook-off, where champions are selected for the quality of their main dish cornbread recipe, the winner of the Celebrity Cook-off is the person who generates the most financial donations for the Marion County Children’s Fund.

Sports fans flock to the annual Children’s Fund Auction, where football memorabilia from the University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints are up for bid. Additionally, an autographed jersey of 2008 Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning of the New York Giants will be auctioned.

And for Country & Western Music fans, guitars and cowboy hats autographed by your renowned artists will also be up for auction.
For those of you who love to cook, there will be gift baskets donated by Paula Deen and magazine subscriptions to Taste of the South Magazine.

This year’s contestants are Madeline Ware, principal of Whitwell High School, Allan Pratt, principal of South Pittsburg High School, Troy Boeck, assistant principal of Marion County High School, Mark Griffith, Director of Marion County Schools and Kimberly Williams, from the headliner group Williams and Clark Expedition.