The annual 2023 CountryFest Stew Cook-Off has attracted 15 entries with just a few days left to enter, according to Bonnie McAllister, Chamber coordinator. There are eight chicken stew cooks and seven beef stew cooks currently registered with the sponsoring Franklin County Chamber of Commerce; $2,000 in prize money is to be awarded with $500, $250 and $100 awarded to the respective first through third place winners in each of the two categories.

Only three of the 140 booths available remained to be spoken for at the 48th annual CountryFest celebration to be conducted the second Saturday in October, Oct. 14, 2023.