Sequatchie Valley Cornbread Cook-off 

Do you have a traditional cornbread recipe? Do you live in Marion County, TN or Jackson County, AL? If that's the case, begin preparations for the first-ever Sequatchie Valley Cornbread Cook-off, Sunday April 25 during the 14th Annual National Cornbread Festival.

The 10-person cook-off will begin at 1:30 p.m. on 2nd Street's Cook-off Stage. There are 2 contests in one: the cook who raises the most money for the Marion County Children's Fund and the cook with the best-tasting cornbread. First place contestants in each category will win $100 in cash; second place, $50 in cash; and third place, $25 in cash.

Contestants raising money to qualify for the SVCC cook-off can be individuals or church, business or civic groups. However, only 1 person can prepare the selected recipe. Contestants are required to use Lodge Skillets or Wedge Pan and Martha White Cornmeal in the preparation of their recipes. Anyone not using Lodge or Martha White Cornbread will be disqualified from the contest.

"So many people in our community have great, classic cornbread recipes, and the Sequatchie Valley Cornbread Cook-off is an exciting way to showcase them," says Cheryl Kellermann with the Marion County's Children Fund. "By working as teams to raise money, cooks can help our underprivileged children improve their lives."

The Marion County Children's Fund is a non-profit organization supporting the community's foster and needy children. The Fund provides school clothing, toiletries and other needs for the community's children. It also provides a limited number of college scholarship funds for area foster children.