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Union Sportsmen’s Alliance hosts first BBQ Bash competition to benefit conservation
SUBMITTED PHOTO The Gazette
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 364 took top honors in the BBQ challenge, earning bragging rights and a personal cooking course with BBQ master & professional judge, Myron Mixon.
Hundreds of union members and their families gathered at the Torstenson Youth Conservation Education Center in Pecatonica on June 17 for the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) first BBQ Bash and Competition to raise funds to support the USA’s mission and benefit the Illinois’ youth conservation program.
Armed with 40 pounds of meat, eight teams representing a variety of local union organizations including PDC 30, IBEW 364, UFCW 881, UIG and more; faced off in lunch and dinner challenges as event guests cast their votes while enjoying raffles, music, games and outdoor experience and attractions for youth.
Proceeds from the event will support the USA’s mission to unite the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage as well as ongoing Illinois youth conservation initiatives.
Since 2012, the USA’s conservation dinner program has provided the fuel and recruited volunteers for USA Work Boots on the Ground conservation program, and Illinois is a great example of that program’s success.
On behalf of the USA, union leaders and partners formed the Illinois Conservation Committee to raise funds through USA conservation dinners and then utilize those funds for conservation projects across the state.
“This year, the committee broke new ground by organizing the USA’s first BBQ Bash in place of a traditional dinner to bring union members and their families together for a fun, outdoor event,” said USA CEO and Executive Director Walt Ingram.
“The committee’s initiative and support for the USA’s mission is second to none, and we are truly grateful for their extraordinary efforts to unite union members and raise funds to carry out USA community-based conservation projects.”
“We had a great turnout for our first annual BBQ Bash,” shares Ryan Anderson, business manager for PDC 30. “It was great seeing so many union brothers and sisters bring their families out for a day of food and friendly competition.
“Our competing BBQ teams took it to the next level by decorating their booths and creating an inviting, family-friendly atmosphere.”
A team of apprentices representing International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 364 took top honors in the BBQ challenge, earning bragging rights and a personal cooking course with BBQ master & professional judge, Myron Mixon.
The second-place team, representing Painters District Council (PDC) 30 earned a Weber Smoky Mountain charcoal smoker, while Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) achieved third place and took home a BBQ Pro Package.
Though prizes were awarded only to the top three teams – all participants came away feeling like winners. “Our goal in coordinating this event was to shake up the traditional dinner fundraising structure, to instead offer a family-friendly event that could be attended by a larger population of union brothers and sisters.
“It comes full circle for us here in Illinois because we were able to host the event at the Torstenson Youth Conservation Education Center, which focuses on getting kids outdoors and educating them on conservation at an early age,” says Anderson.
USA Event Coordinator John Segura adds “The USA events always bring union brothers and sisters from all backgrounds and walks of life out for a great time.
This event did just that and brought together union men and women from a variety of trades along with countless friends of labor, celebrating the gift of solidarity.
It was also special to witness that comradery shared to those without union ties from surrounding areas who ventured out to the Torstenson Youth Education Center and were brought into the experience with open arms, tasty BBQ and an atmosphere flooded with family fun.”
