The 72nd annual Gillett Coon Supper will take place on Saturday, Jan. 10 in the tiny southeast Arkansas hamlet.

The community and political event is typically a must-stop trip on the annual political circuit. Always in early January, it is usually the first post-holiday event for candidates and elected officials.

This year, the event will once again be held in the Gillett Elementary Gymnasium. The doors open and food is served at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The menu will stay the same as last year: coon, baby-back ribs, brisket, rice, sweet potatoes, and cake. The Coon Supper is put on by the Gillett Farmers and Businessmen’s Club, a non-profit and non-political club that helps with efforts such as summer programs, school programs, an educational endowment fund, athletic and scholastic awards, and community service.

As in recent years, a new tradition has attached to the old one. The Pre-Coon Supper reception will be held at the Marion Berry family farm shop in Gillett. There will be live music and the social event aims to raise money for a scholarship fund for Arkansas State University.

Gabe Holmstrom, the outgoing Arkansas House chief of staff and former aide to former Cong. Marion Berry, says the pre-supper event originally started in Berry’s house, which was situated across the street from the school where the Coon Supper is held.

Learn more about this rich political tradition in the video interview with Holmstrom below.

For ticket information on the Coon Supper, contact Larry Bauer at 870.830.4002. For ticket information on the Pre-Coon Supper Reception, call Holmstrom at 479.409.3329.