Cook-off, car show kick off Allen Co. Fair

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July 23, 2015 - 12:00 AM

With the weather projected for a sweltering Saturday, the heat from a bevy of grills in Riverside Park will likely not be noticed. But the aroma from the cooking brisket, chicken and pork is sure to draw a crowd.
As of today, 26 cooks have registered for this year’s barbecue cook-off, a prominent part of the local Rotary club’s Day in the Park.
“We had 21 cooks last year and 26 will be the most we’ve had,” said Tom Brigham, a Rotary organizer. The grillers will arrive in Riverside Park Friday evening and many will start the cooking process in the dead of the night.
The Rotary presence, including the Neil Westervelt Memorial Car Show, has become in its duality a signature event of the Allen County Fair.
The local cook-off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
A side benefit of the cook-off is that the society will provide about 400 pounds of meat to food pantries in the county.
Winning the contest gives rise in the barbecue hierarchy and promises rewards on state and national levels.

MOST YEARS the barbecue contest has a headliner. This year it is Grinders Restaurant and owner Stretch, which he prefers to a formal name.
The restaurant — originator of Grinders Signature Hot Sauces — has become known worldwide through Stretch’s appearances on television shows such as Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy’s Big Bite and Cutthroat Kitchen.
Stretch first envisioned a career as a toy designer, which may explain his penchant for having a good time and never shying from spicing his cooking with something a little over the top. Once he appeared on Guy’s Grocery Games — another Food Network standard — with what he called his custom-made Shopping Cart of Death, complete with built-in grill, flame thrower and air horn. He also has toured with Guy Gieri on his national “Foodapalooza Roadshow.”
When Brigham and wife Judy — who literally have immersed themselves for weeks in making this year’s fair-opening  an extravaganza — learned Grinders would be on board, they knew they had a winner.
“Stretch is pretty cool and he will bring some excitement,” Tom promised.
Iola Rotarians have raised more than $13,000 from area businesses and other supporters to put on the car show and cook-off and provide prizes for the drawings.
From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. pulled pork sandwiches, chips and a drink will be available for $5. Purchase of a meal ticket will put the person in drawings for all sorts of merchandise and cash.
As the tent folds, car show participants will cruise through town in tandem starting at 2 p.m.
Proceeds from the day going the Rotary club’s way will benefit youth and other projects.

THE FAIR’S annual turtle race will unfold at 10:30 a.m. Saturday near the Baby Barn, just northwest of the Recreation Community Building.
Friday and Saturday nights at 6 o’clock in the rodeo arena young cowboys and cowgirls will test their riding skills as mutton busters — trying to stay aboard a contrary sheep. Also both evenings at 8 o’clock visages of the Old West will take center stage with all a classic rodeo has to offer.
Sunday night draft horses will plod into the arena to demonstrate why for eons they were the transport staple of commerce and agriculture.

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