Jackson Fire Department’s Wild Turkey Dish Wins People’s Choice at State Cookoff

The Jackson Fire Department won the People’s Choice Award at the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s State Wild Game Cookoff, held Aug. 8 in Millbrook, after serving up a wild turkey breast dish that proved to be a hit with attendees.

“They said people were coming back for seconds,” Jackson Fire Chief John Brown said of the team’s dish. The People’s Choice Award is determined by attendees at the state cookoff, continuing a successful run for the department.

The road to the state finals began last November in Grove Hill, where 26 teams competed for best overall dish and a chance to advance. The Jackson Fire Department took the top honor at that Southwest Alabama regional event with its “thunder chicken” dish. The statewide cookoff brought together winners from 15 regional competitions held across Alabama.

How the cookoff series works

The Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Wild Game Cook-Off series is made up of local cook-offs hosted around the state, with winning teams advancing to the state event in August at the federation’s Lanark headquarters in Millbrook. The series is one of the federation’s largest fundraisers, supporting its conservation and outdoor education work.