About the Cook-Off

The LaSalle County Wild Hog Cook-off has become one of the largest attractions in the community on the second Saturday of March each year, and draws chefs from near and far with the lure of prizes in various categories.

The first cook-off category is for barbecued wild hog meat, and all foods in that competition are cooked barbecue style. The exotic cooking category is open to all who cook their wild hog meat in any way other than barbecuing it. The presentation category is a showpiece, where teams offer trays of food that have been artistically arranged or cooked and are entered as either edible or non-edible presentations. Everything in the edible foods division must be ready to eat. In both presentation categories, plates are judged on appearance and how well the hog meat itself is presented. Teams are asked to carry out the theme of the annual event in their artistic arrangement. Showmanship is also an artistic event, where teams will decorate their cook-off space depicting the annual theme. Trophies go to the first, second, and third place winners in each category.