The County Press

Friends of Southern Links Trailway to host annual soup cook-off on March 9




COLUMBIAVILLE — Few things go together as well as nature trails and soup.

The Friends of the Southern Links Trailway invites all area soup enthusiasts — whether they’re skilled in crafting the hearty meal or just adept at eating it — to their annual Soup Cook-Off, this year scheduled for Saturday, March 9. Held at the Columbiaville United Methodist Church on 4696 Pine St., soup tasting and voting takes place between 5-7 p.m.

Free will donations will also be accepted throughout the day, and any money raised during the event will go toward supporting the Southern Links Trailway. “It’s our major fundraiser of the year for maintaining the trail,” said Dawn Johnson, member of the Friends of the Southern Links Trailway.

The Friends of the Southern Links Trailway raise money throughout the year to help maintain and promote the 10.2-mile-long trail connecting Columbiaville, Otter Lake and Millington, said Johnson, as well as organize memberships, hold the annual National Trail Day festivities and raise awareness of the hiking, biking and horseback riding trail.

Johnson said this year’s soup cook-off is “the ninth or tenth” the Friends have held the event, and on average it attracts a half-dozen or so cooks and upwards of 75 tasters. “We’re always looking for taster, and love to have cooks come too,” said Johnson. All soups, she said, are prepared on-site at the Columbiaville United Methodist Church’s licensed kitchen the day of the event, and there’s a spirit of “friendly competition” among the cooks, and for good reason. “There is a trophy involved,” said Johnson. First place in the soup cook-off, as determined by vote, is also awarded a $100 cash prize. Second place earns $50.

Also on the docket for the afternoon’s festivities is a silent auction featuring items donated by local businesses and residents. For more information, call Johnson at the Marathon Township Office at 810-793- 2002. To donate items to the silent auction, contact the Friends of the Southern Links Trailway Facebook page or call 810-793-2453.