By Alaina Denean Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

Things got a little wild on Water Avenue Thursday night as 16 teams competed for the title of best wild game cooks in the annual Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Wildgame Cook-off.

The Co-Op Cut Ups from Central Alabama Electric Cooperative took home the grand prize with best overall dish with jackrabbit pie.

“It was so much fun. It was a lot of work but it’s worth every bit of it,” said Kristy Seamon, a member of the team. “We did it for a lot of fun, but we also meet great people and have a good time together. It’s just a good time and it pays off for what we do. We just appreciate representing Central Alabama Electric and getting paid back with plaques.”

The team also took home 2nd place fish, 1st place game and best presentation.

Jeff Verner, with the Peppertree Pit Crew team from Montgomery, has been competing in the competition for 10 years, and said he and his crew always have a good time, even if they do come up with their dishes at the last minute.

“It’s just a good time. Me and my chef just kind of think about it and what we need to do and try it out and at the last minute throw it together,” Verner said with a laugh.

Verner said he enjoys coming to Selma for the cook-off and meeting the different people during the event.

“It’s a nice town and there’s a lot of people that come to these things to come and eat everybody’s food,” he said.

“We just do out best and try hard and if you win, you win and if you don’t, you don’t but at least it’s a good time.”

The proceeds from the cook-off go towards the Natureplex in Millbrook, where kids of all ages can get an up close and personal look into wildlife.

“[The cook-off] gives a lot of kids a lot of exposure to conservation and wildlife,” said Tim Wood, an organizer of the event. “It helps fund the Natureplex in Millbrook. They get to handle snakes to turtles. You just see every kind of critter you want to see just about. It’s a great, great venue and it teaches kids early about conservation, about wildlife and about hunting and fishing.”

The Co-op Cut Ups will compete in the state competition in August against other winners from competitions around the state.

Wood said the event is great for Selma, and shows that the community really does support one another.

“It’s a multicultural event. It shows that Selma is not the way it is perceived,” Wood said. “We have a great community. We want to show it off.”

The Co-op Cut-ups will compete in the state competition in August against other winners from competition around the state.

“You try other people’s stuff and it kind of gives you ideas too.”