Everyone loves the Soup-er Bowl.

Tough competition, great atmosphere, fan support … what’s not to like?

Oh, I did say “soup-er” not “super.”

That’s because we alert the Miss-Lou to join the first “Soup-er Bowl Cook-Off” Saturday, Jan. 31 (the day before that other bowl) to benefit Operation G.R.I.T.S. for Soldiers and Home With Heroes Foundation Inc. of the Miss-Lou. All proceeds will benefit our efforts. No officer or board member is paid a dime. GRITS has sent more than 2,000 gift boxes to our men and women serving overseas. Home With Heroes has a variety of programs for veterans and their loved ones.

There will be soups, all kinds and flavors, cooked up by professionals and amateurs, adults and youth. And the great part is that you are the judge. Tasters will get kits and tickets and determine the winners.

We’ll be serving from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Vidalia Convention Center, thanks to the City of Vidalia. There will be games for youngsters, door prizes, music, give-aways and more. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for children 12 and under. Children 7 and under are free.

We are seeking contestants to battle for prizes: first, second and third in each division, as well as booth decoration prizes in sports and patriotic categories.

So, here are the divisions: Professional team, amateur team, professional individual, amateur individual, youth team, youth individual. We challenge restaurants, schools, churches, civic organizations and others to dig out your best soup recipes and come cook Jan. 31. Oh, yes, for our contest, gumbo is considered a soup. There is a special category: “Redneck Soup,” which must include some form of game.

The rules are simple: come and cook soup of your own concoction. Doors open for cooks at 8:30 a.m. Cooks must bring all ingredients and cooking implements. Booth decorators must bring all decorative items.

Professional team and amateur team entry fee is $100. Professional individual is $50. Amateur individual is $10. Adult competitors can enter up to three soups. Each soup must have enough for 100 half-cup tastings. Entry deadline is Jan. 29.

Youth (17-and-under) team and individual have no entry fee. Youth competitors may enter one soup.

Entry forms are at various places in the Miss-Lou and on our Facebook pages: Home With Heroes, and Operation GRITS, or by calling me at 601-807-6470 or 318-336-5202 or myself Home With Heroes President G. Mark LaFrancis at 601-597-4268. Also see the Home With Heroes website, homewithheroes.org.

So, bring your bib and get ready to have a super — rather soup-er — day.