New exhibit being added to annual Wildlife Supper

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The annual Wildlife Supper is slated to offer more food and a greater view of wildlife as a 48-foot exhibit is added to this year's event.

"The exhibit contains over 30 of some of the largest deer mounts and wildlife mounts that most guys have every seen. They're jaw-dropping," said Dwayne Maynard, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church, which puts on the supper every year.

Donated to the church by a local business man, the exhibit trailer will allow attendees to walk through to enter the event which is held inside the church's multipurpose building.

"The trailer is an awesome addition to our wildlife event," said Ron Blackburn, associate pastor of the church. "It has some enormous, beautiful wildlife mounts displayed in it."

The "men only night" will be 7 p.m. Jan. 27 with duplicate events set for 7 p.m. Jan. 26 and 6 p.m. Jan. 28.

All types of wildlife are prepared for the dinner -- typically five to seven types each night, said Maynard. Additionally, there are sides, and all attendees are invited to bring a covered dish for the "Road Kill Cafe" and be entered into a raffle drawing. Guns and vacations will be given away nightly.

"This is the first year we're not holding back," Maynard said about the menu. "It will be the biggest menu we'll ever have."

Alligator, which was served for the first time last year, was a hit and will return, Maynard said.

"It was huge," Maynard said of the alligator. "Last year we replaced frog legs with alligator, but this year we're bringing back the frog legs so we will have both."

Also slated to be served are deer, catfish, wild hog, turkey and hog jowl as well as several "pass-around" foods like dove and duck. There will also be biscuits and gravy and a hash brown casserole, among other dishes, Maynard said.

"Everybody will get four choices of meat, four sides and the pass-arounds as well -- so it's about a total of 12 items for the $12 ticket," Maynard said.

Food for the occasion is provided by hunters from the church; however, some is purchased by the church for the event, Maynard said.

Maynard said the event feeds about 275 people each of the three nights.

"You can't eat that stuff every day -- unless you're an avid hunter. Our cook team puts a lot of time and effort into putting out quality food," Blackburn said.