NATCHITOCHES – Winners of the 2026 Gumbo Cook-off held at Northwestern State University as part of the 46th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival have been announced. Elvin Shields of Natchitoches took first place in the poultry plus category for his chicken and sausage gumbo, while the team Big Dog Cookers, comprised of Joey Sylvie and Jimmy Lawrence of Natchez, took first place in the seafood and people’s choice categories and second place in the poultry plus category.
Kristie Brown, Felicia Lawson and Shirley Winslow managed the Cookoff. Judges were NSU Instructor of English Heather Salter-Dromm, NSU alumnus Eli Dyjack, NSU photographer Chris Reich and Sally Halm.
Festival patrons were able to sample the competing gumbos for a dollar a cup. Despite the heat of the day, the gumbo sold quickly.
“We sold 91 cups in 30 minutes. It was 100 degrees out there and people were eating that gumbo like it was the middle of winter,” said Sylvie.
Director of the Festival Dr. Shane Rasmussen observed “All of the entries made for the cook-off highlighted the level of skilled craftsmanship and art there is in making great gumbo. Each of the entrants made amazing food, and we thank them for sharing with us their culinary talents.”
When the Festival returns next July, it will host a Chili Cook-off. Updates will be posted on the Louisiana Folklife Center website in spring 2027.
Support for the Festival was provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana.
Support also came from generous sponsorships from Alliance Compressors, Atmos Energy, C&H Precision Machining, City Bank, the City of Natchitoches, Cleco, Evans Family, LLC, the Family Doctors of Natchitoches, the Harrington Law Firm, Ronnie’s Auto Glass and Collision Center, Natchitoches Wood Preserving Company and Young Estate, LLC.
The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the program did not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.