Squirrel cook-off draws thousands to northwest Arkansas

Seven states and more than 30 teams were represented at the 2016 World Championship Squirrel Cook-off on northwest Arkansas.

Amateur and professional chefs set up dozens of tents Saturday on the Bentonville square, as thousands lined up early to dine on various recipes for cooking the fluffy-tailed rodent.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that proceeds from this year's cook off went to Sheepdog Impact Assistance and the Wings for Our Troops Foundation, two service organizations based in Rogers serving veterans, military members and police and firefighters.

Sheepdog officials say they will use the money to provide holiday meals to police and firefighters on duty during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The Wings Foundation will use the money to help military members return home to see their family before being deployed.

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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com