Supper’s raccoon draws in politicians

GILLETT — The two announced 2014 gubernatorial candidates can agree on at least one thing - go for the barbecued raccoon.

Former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel were among the bipartisan crowd of legislators, community leaders and Gillett natives at Saturday’s Coon Supper and a preceding reception.

Former U.S. Rep. Marion Berry hosted dozens of current and former politicians at his family shop for the reception

The crowd quickly grew to more than 100 people before the start of the Gillett Farmers and Businessmen’s Club’s Coon Supper at the nearby Gillett High School gymnasium. The supper raises money for four-year scholarships awarded to two seniors graduating fromGillett-area high schools.

Chad Philipp, the president of the Gillett Farmers and Businessmen’s Club, said the sellout crowd poured into the overflow room next to the gym.

“When we opened the doors, we had one ticket left,” Philipp said.

McDaniel said his first Coon Supper was in 1997, his first year of law school. The Democrat said he always tries a helping of the raccoon meat and prefers it with barbecue sauce.

“It’s January; as Marion [Berry] always says, ‘If you’re not in Gillett on Coon Supper day, you’re wrong,’” McDaniel said.

Hutchinson said his first Coon Supper was in 1986, when he acquired a glass with the image of a raccoon on it. He said he valued seeing people from all over the state at the event.

“It’s just such a great Arkansas occasion,” said Hutchinson, a Republican.

In addition to 600 pounds of raccoon meat, there were 13 cases of ribs, 24 briskets and plenty of rice and sweet potatoes. For dessert, the event boasted 25 sheet cakes.

The Coon Supper, which began in the 1940s to raise money for athletics at Gillett High School, has long been a must-attend event, where legislators rub elbows and sometimes hand out campaign brochures in election years.

With the legislative session beginning Monday, the supper was also one of the last respites before many of the people in attendance traveled to Little Rock and packed into the Capitol.

Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, made the trip to his first Coon Supper after attending events in Fayetteville on Saturday morning.

He said the event was a good way to start off the session and the coming debates by introducing legislators to people from around the state.

“The more we understand about people across the state, the easier it is to relate to those differences so that when we’re working on things, we can truly take into account everybody and not just a real narrow group,” Collins said.

Gov. Mike Beebe, who has said his political career began at the supper decades ago, did not attend the event.

Matt DeCample, Beebe’s spokesman, said B eebe was attending the Women and Children First Woman of the Year event in Little Rock.

Mitch Berry, the son of Marion Berry and one of the organizers for the reception before the supper, said both events are an extension of the holidays for many people.

This year, the proceeds from the reception will be used to establish the Marion and Carolyn Berry Scholarship, which will be awarded to an Arkansas State University student who shows an interest in public policy and public service.

“This event has always just kind of been a tradition since I was a little kid,” Mitch Berry said. “We decided we wanted to turn it into something that helps someone else.”