By Brynna Willamson
With all of her heart, Elizabeth Dry really, truly believes that.
In fact, Dry believes that all whole and health foods have the power to be able to change a person’s lifestyle. That’s why she spent untold hours in 2024 to give Wood County, Texas what she believes is a “critical” event: Okrapalooza!
They Drove In—In Droves!
2024 marks 15 years of Okrapalooza, but a first for Wood County. Dry estimates that more than 200 people attended the event this year, which is held through her nonprofit, Promise of Peace.
Dry said that she was stunned to discover from those attending Okrapalooza that people had driven from Tyler, Longview, Plano, and even as far away as Dallas to attend her event. “We have a following,” she said. “People are even wanting to elevate Okrapalooza so that they can come and enjoy it!”
The Main Event
The event, which was held at the Mineola Nature Preserve in Wood County, featured several different activities to display the many ways to use okra. Primary among these was an okra cooking contest by several prominent chefs, including some from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Nourish ETX Chef Adam Chenault won the competition with his okra/lemon meringue Twinkie, which Dry says was made by using okra as a “binding ingredient” in the pastry.
“I mean, those chefs not only created all this and gave up their time and day, but they really took the time to explain to people (what they’re doing),” she said. “When that chef-driven dish went from the chef’s hand to the people’s hands, and the conversation explained what they were receiving, it changed lives.”
Something for Everyone
Kids weren’t left out at Okrapalooza. Dry arranged supplies for kids who attended the event to make “little signs” with the saying “Think Okrally,” or they could also make “head wreaths” with okra and rosemary twigs.
Adults had many different dishes to taste, try out, and ask questions about, including the aforementioned Twinkie, okra hushpuppies, bacon/okra/tomato sandwiches, and much more. They even had mocktails, rosemary spritzers, and “okra shots,” where Dry says that they “educate(d) people about the benefits of drinking okra water.”
“Each guest got about a two to four-ounce portion, so there was at least a five-course dinner to be had,” she said. Okrapalooza also featured a specimen of the biggest gourd in the world; participants guessed its weight, and the winner of this “Hello, Gordgeous” competition got to take the fruit home.
Dry says that she and her team of around 20 volunteers “must have schlepped 50 boxes” over the course of the day. Not only that, but they set up the event, helped make sure each mini-event went smoothly, helped run activities, and tore down after Okrapalooza was over. So, yeah, she was good and tired by the time the big day for Promise of Peace was complete.
Assessing the Situation
Dry was happy to see, however, there was a “pretty positive response” as far as holding Okrapalooza in Wood County, Texas next year. So, despite how much work went into her project, Dry’s plan is to do it again next year—and this time, even bigger and better.
“I swore I would not do it again. I do this every year, (saying) ‘I’m not gonna do it,’ but I think next year, we’ll make it even bigger,” she said.
According to Dry, the goal of Okrapalooza was to bring a “celebration (of food)” mindset to the East Texas area. She said that, to her, that goal was achieved.
“What I wanted was for people to walk away with a different perspective about food–and community—but also (to walk) away with an understanding of what it means to get the food from particular farms, and treat that food with a creative spirit in gratefulness for abundance,” she said. “And I think it was beyond my expectations.” So when all was said and done? “It was amazing. I can’t believe it; we did it,” said Dry. “(Let’s) sit down, because I’m still tired!” she added with a laugh.