COAL TOWNSHIP - Much like players of the National Football League have prepared themselves for a chance to play in the Super Bowl, area supresatta makers have been readying their finest creations for their first big event of the year, Soupie Bowl XIV.
This Saturday marks the 14th year for the "World's Largest Soupie Contest," set for Forest Hill Fire Company, Trevorton Road. Proceeds from Soupie Bowl XIV benefit the fire company building and scholarship fund.
"From its hallowed beginnings in Kaboodle Hollow, the event has been a great fundraiser for the fire company, and a great time for all who attend," said Forest Hill's Craig Fetterman.
Master of Ceremonies Chico Bradley will lead the judges in live tasting and scoring. Entries will be split between two sets of five judges. After five finalists are announced, all 10 judges will come together to score those. Each soupie gets a score of 1 to 5 from the tasters.
This year's judges include new Shamokin Area High School head football coach Yaacov Yisreal, soupie-maker extraordinaire Artie Catino, soupie queen Carol Waugh, soupie princess Clair Bonshock, state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107), Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini, Family Home Medical Inc. owner Warren Altomare, Mount Carmel Borough Mayor J. Kevin Jones, Coal Township Commissioner Gene Welsh and News-Item staff writer Rob Wheary.
The top three scorers in the tasting category will receive awards. In addition to the flavor-based events, there will be a soupie-stuffing contest, where teams of two compete to see who can stuff and tie five soupies in the least amount of time.
Doors open at 4 p.m., and entries will be accepted starting at 6 p.m. Judging starts at 8 p.m.
There is no entry fee or charge for admission. Those who wish to participate are asked to bring a sliced soupie.
Signups for the stuffing contest, hosted by Wheary, will be at the registration table the night of the event.
Organizers thank Catino's Italian Specialities for its continued support of the event. This year, the business has donated soupie sandwiches and assorted food items for purchase.
Also, door prizes will be awarded.
A number of sponsors have contributed to the event, and more are welcome. A list of sponsors and competition results will be published following the event.
Soupie Bowl XIV, the area's oldest competition, marks the beginning of "soupie season" in the area and the first competition of 2013. Last year, contests for soupies, as well as for other Italian sausages, pastas and wine, were held at the Maine Fire Company, Coal Township, The West End Fire Company, Kulpmont, and at the Atlas American Legion.