Hopkins County Chamber Connection

Monday, Aug. 15, is the final day to get your applications in if you are interested in being in this year’s Leadership Sulphur Springs class.

Leadership Sulphur Springs is a community leadership development program sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. The course was created in 1989 with the concept of offering leadership training and community involvement for emerging business and community leaders. It is a nine-month session, with meetings held once a month.

Applicants should have lived or worked in Hopkins County for at least a year, have demonstrated a concern for the community, possesses high standards of persona quality and integrity, willing to commit the time required for the program, have the endorsement of their employer to take the necessary time away from work.

To apply, go to the Chamber’s website at HopkinsChamber.org, email Butch@HopkinsChamber.org or call 903-885-6515.

The cost is $500, usually paid by the applicant’s employer.

We need 20 applicants for the class to make.

Stewcomers Meeting

For those who are interested in cooking up a pot of stew for the Stew Festival, the Chamber will have a Stewcomers meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11.

Participating in the meeting does not obligate you to cook in the Stew Fest, but it will give you information on the process, including recipes, timelines and what to expect. Email Butch@HopkinsChamber.org for more information on the meeting.

Photography Contest

It’s time once again for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual photography contest!

The photography contest is open to anyone who resides in Hopkins County. We have seven categories: Natural World, Travel, Family and People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children (for photographers up to 18 years of age). Photographs must have been taken in Hopkins County no earlier than Jan. 1, 2021.

See the rules on our website, HopkinsChamber.org. You can also upload your photos to our website to enter. The deadline to enter is Aug. 31.

Stewing About It

Registration for the 53rd Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, set for Oct. 22, is open.

To register, go online to the Chamber’s website at HopkinsChamber.org/stewcooks, email info@HopkinsChamber.org or call 903-885-6515. The cost to enter is $100 per stew pot, with $150 coming from the sponsor to pay for ingredients.

This year, stew cooks can also pre-order a T-shirt with “Stew Cook” on the back for $15.

Register now to reserve your spot from last year.

We also are taking applications for our vendor market at the stew. Cost is $75 for Chamber members, $100 for nonmembers. Go to our website at HopkinsChamber.org or call Amanda at 903-885-6515 to register.

Our sponsorship letters should be arriving in your mailbox this week, so be looking for those