About Us

The ORIGINAL group of Louisiana lifestyle & cuisine lovers bring a Gumbo Cook-off to the forefront here in Central Florida to benefit deserving Juniors Angler groups, Teen Angler, Youth and Junior Anglers Education (JAE).  

 Finding its origin among likeminded friends who share a passion for good food and fishing, the concept Gumbo Wars was established in 2011. Our intentions were having fun and raising funds used to support and promote youth fishing and conservation programs in Central Florida and our success continues to accomplish these goals today. Good food and the outdoors just go together, and after having fun and serving great gumbo for over ten years, the Gumbo Wars organization has supplied grants and scholarships to youth fishing organizations and conservation programs ranging well over $100,000 dollars. As a 501c3 non-profit organization, Gumbo Wars Inc. has introduced thousand of kids to fishing through its Junior Angler Education program, where volunteers teach children and their parents the value of our fragile outdoor resources, and, after the one-hour program is complete, each child receives their own fishing rod, reel, and tackle box to take home with them! In 2019/2020 Gumbo Wars Inc. supplied grants and scholarships to the Teen Sportfishing Association of Central Florida, Seminole Teen Anglers, the Bobby Lane Cup (high school bass fishing tournament), the Blair Wiggins Clam Restoration Project in the Indian River Lagoon, the Fish Orlando Project, Captains for Clean Water, Anglers for Conservation, and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.Our passion has driven our success, and our success has shaped the lives of thousands of young anglers, and, hopefully the future of those who follow in our footsteps. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The late John Boodreaux Baumann (2000-2022)

Steve Chapman

Andre Dartez

Chris Femmer

Capt. Butch Finnigan

Jay Herrington

Jessica Herrington

Wade Leffel

Carrie Lockwood

Tom Paisano

Debbie Sherwin

Capt. Tom Van Horn

Phil Wolfe

Florence Wylie Williams