The 56th Annual 4-H/FFA BBQ Proves It’s Still Successful
A very large crowd packed the Pavilion on the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Hundreds of Mahaska Country residents, 4-Hers and those in FFA hopped in line to grab a burger or pork burger all in their honor.
The Annual 4-H/FFA BBQ is reported or we should say ‘officially’ in it’s 56th year, but people say it’s been going on longer than that, there just aren’t any records of it. The BBQ allows each 4-H and FFA member to attend this event for free, and to also have a chance to win one of 10 savings bonds provided by area banks.
The Mahaska County Agricultural and Rural Development Program, the Oskaloosa Area Chamber & Development Group and the Mahaska County Farm Bureau all co-sponsored this years event.
Calvin Groenendyk of Leighton Processed Meats, also a board member for MCARD, said that 100 pounds of beef and an additional 100 pounds of pork were prepared for the BBQ. Groenendyk and Leighton Processed Meats donated the meat for the feed.
Mahaska County Supervisor Willie Van Weelden helps take tickets at this years 4-H / FFA BBQ
Groenendyk said during a normal BBQ, they will serve approximately 450 people who will have their choice of a beef burger or pork patty.
“I want to thank Miranda and the Board for letting us do this,” Groenendyk stated about them donating the evening’s meat. He also expressed his thanks towards Grate Expectations Catering, here in Oskaloosa, for catering the food, cooking the meat, and being a big help.
“I really want to thank Leighton Processed Meat for donating 200 pounds of meat for this event today,” Miranda Johnson of MCARD said of Groenendyk’s donation. She wanted to thank Great Expectations for their help, “and the great Farm Bureau people and my MCARD Board plus the Chamber Board that helped.”
10 local banks donated savings bonds to be given away, other prizes and auction items for the evenings live auction.
“This right here shows the support that our business have for our 4-H and FFA youth in Mahaska County. This could not be possible without our businesses. 4-H and FFA students, they work hard all year for their projects,” Johnson said of the wonderful support local business has been. She mentioned that this is a good reward for all their hard work they put in.
