Wednesday, August 1, 2012


Well, our third Grills Gone Wild Fundraiser was another success! Over $3,000 was raised for ElderCircle and Community Cafe.  We couldn't do it without the Ogle's Marketplace Foods!  They donate much of the meat and food for this event.  “Ogle’s really goes out of their way to make this a great event.  This year, in addition to the ribs, they donated chicken drummies, hotdogs, ice cream, chips, cheese, crackers, pop, water and even chocolate milk.  Their generosity is incredible,” says Kristi Kane, ElderCircle Executive Director.  Other sponsors of the event include Paul Bunyan Communications, The Local Boy Garbage Service, Range Water Conditioning, J & B Quality Food Products, Farmland Premium Farms, Country Hearth, Old Dutch, Barrel O’Fun, Bernatello’s, Pepsi, Reser’s Fine Foods, Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Lefty’s Tent & Party Rental, Nash Finch Company, Kemps, No Name, Crystal Farms and Clafton’s Sporting Goods.

            The sandwich sale took place from 11am-6pm on Friday, July 20th, and customers could pick up or pre-order (for delivery) pork sandwiches, potato salad, chips and a drink, or come to Ogle’s Marketplace Foods and buy lunch or dinner.  Many local businesses took part in pre-ordering and ordered lunch for their employees.  Board members and volunteers from both Community Café and ElderCircle helped serve lunch and deliver meals.  It was a very busy place from 11am - 1pm!

            Saturday, July 21st, the barbeque rib contest took place with five teams competing in the rib cook-off.  Contestants all get the same rack of ribs from Ogle’s meat department at 8am, and judging takes place at 1pm.  Judges this year were Judge Lois Lang, Sheriff Vic Williams, Michael Davis of KMFY/KOZY and Shawn Gillen, City Administrator of Grand Rapids.  The first place winner AND people’s choice winner was Randy Ihle of Hill City, and the second place winner was Chris Hampton of Grand Rapids.  With a $5 donation to ElderCircle and Community Café community members could taste test ribs and food samples until they had their fill.  Congratulations to the winners!

            ElderCircle and Community Café would like to thank Ogle’s Marketplace Foods, the sponsors, the grillers, the wonderful volunteers who helped coordinate, cook, serve and deliver meals for this event, and the community members and businesses who purchased sandwiches and tasted the ribs!  It was another fun and successful event due to everyone involved!! ElderCircle and Community Café are looking forward to another “Grills Gone Wild” event next year!

Kristi Kane, ED of ElderCircle, and John Weber, ED of Community Cafe. 

The crowd of taste-testers!

A sampling of food that was being grilled.

The judges:  Michael Davis of KOZY, Shawn Gillen, City Administrator, Judge Lois Lang and Sheriff Vic Williams.

Kurt Ogle being interviewed by Jason Groth of KOZY.

First Place and People's Choice Winner, Randy Ihle of Hill City.

Second Place Winner, Chris Hampton.

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