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RANDOLPH - Randolph Rescue has a full plate planning its annual fundraiser.
The third annual Randolph BBQ to the Rescue fundraiser has been set for Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Randolph Area Veterans Memorial Park.
This year’s event will raise money for the ambulance fund to help make the squad’s annual payment as well as to replenish any necessary equipment or supplies.
“This year there’s a good amount of interest and quite a few cooking teams are already reserved,” said Tony Backer, Randolph Rescue captain. “We’re shooting for around 20. Last year we had 19 teams which was great. Our first year we had seven or eight so we’re up quite a bit and we’ve got more people pulled in which is great.”
In past years, teams from all across the region - including out-of-staters from Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota participated in the annual barbecue competition.
“They come quite a ways for it which is good,” Backer said.
Teams of up to four people can pre-register or register the day of the event prior to cook time at 8 a.m. Those cooking will be given access to electricity at the park but need to provide their own tent (if they want one) and whatever apparatus they plan to use to cook.
Upon registration, teams receive ribs for the contest and set about cooking them to ‘pork-fection.’
Meal and drink tickets are included for those competitors working up an appetite, Backer said.
At 4 p.m., competitors are required to turn in their finished meat. A group of judges selected by Randolph Rescue will decide on who will bring home the bacon with first, second and third place winners awarded cash prizes, Backer said.
Those not interested in cooking can still partake in the festivities with fun for the whole family on tap.
Gate fees provide a barbecue rib buffet to flip for starting at 5 p.m. with a number of side dishes and then individuals going from cook to cook to sample any ribs they want, Backer said.
Hotdogs and pulled pork meals are available for anyone who doesn’t prefer ribs.
The barbecue cookout will be fun all day long with a beer garden, and sand volleyball and cornhole tournament.
LifeNet and Randolph Rescue’s two ambulances will also be on display.
As part of this year’s BBQ to the Rescue event, people can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a pellet grill or 20 pounds of locally-grown hamburger. Only 300 raffle tickets will be sold with the drawing held after the BBQ to the Rescue awards at 6 p.m.
A DJ will provide jams for the dance starting at 7:30 p.m. which will close out the day’s activities. *** To pre-register or for more information, contact Backer at [email protected] or 402-360-4002.
