Hog Wild!

By Becky Fitzgerald on September 15, 2016

3rd annual HOGtoberfest to raise money, awareness for Good Samaritan Fund

 Friends of Meadowlark Hills have a fun and tasty opportunity to support the Meadowlark Hills Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund when the doors to Cox Bros. BBQ open at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13. Brothers Bud and Bobby Cox, sons of Meadowlark Hills resident Ellie Cox, pledge to donate 10% of that day’s proceeds to the Fund. 

Food specials on Oct. 13 at Cox Bros. BBQ, 223 McCall Road, include pulled pork sliders for $2 each, available from the restaurant’s opening to closing at 9 p.m., and a hog roast buffet beginning at 6 p.m. In addition, anyone who makes a Cox Bros. BBQ purchase on Oct. 13 may register to win a door prize: a barbecue meal for 10! Residents and employees who purchased a HOGtoberfest T-shirt also will be entered to win the door prize. The package includes two meats, two sides as well as buns, sauce, pickles and disposable dinnerware.

Back by popular demand will be two nods to traditional Oktoberfest favorites. Live music will be provided by accordion player Rusty Schwerdt, and a beer tasting and buying station will be operated by Flint Hills Beverage beginning at 6 p.m.

HOGtoberfest would certainly be fun with just barbecue, brews and music, but keep reading, there’s more! In order to create additional opportunities to raise money and awareness for the Good Samaritan Fund, a Hog & Kisses Contest has begun, and 50/50 raffle tickets are now on sale. The 50/50 raffle winner takes home half of the money collected by ticket sales, and half of the proceeds support the Good Samaritan Fund. The more tickets we sell, the bigger your prize!  Prize tickets are $1 each, six for $5, 15 for $10 and 40 for $20 and may be purchased at the Hospitality Desk.

Five hog kissing candidates will solicit votes in the form of dollars, with the candidate collecting the most money kissing a baby hog shortly after 6 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Cox Bros. Our little hog, a Hampshire-Duroc-Yorkshire cross, was born a few weeks ago at Parks Farm east of Manhattan, so her snout will be just the right size for smooching in mid-October.

The Foundation reached out to our six founding churches, and five of the six answered our call for kissing candidates. Participating are Rev. Susan Evans, Blue Valley Memorial United Methodist Church; Rev. Cam McConnell, First Presbyterian Church; Kyle Olson, Director of Spiritual Growth at First Lutheran Church; Rev. John Parsley of First Baptist Church, and Dave Rogers, co-owner of Burnett Automotive and a board member at First Christian Church. Last year, our own Lonnie Baker was our top vote-getter and pig kisser.

Vote for the candidate of your choice by placing cash or check in his/her hog jar, located at the reception desk, or online at www.meadowlark.org.   

Residents and employees who purchased HOGtoberfest T-shirts are invited to wear them on a special Jeans Day for employees on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and on the day of the event. Employees who pay at least a $1 on the 28th and 13th may wear jeans, and those dollars will support the kissing candidates.

Monte Spiller, Resident Services Leader, is working to arrange free transportation to Cox Bros. on Oct. 13 for those who would like a ride. Watch future Messengers and the Blue Book for a departure time and registration sheet.

HOGtoberfest wouldn’t be possible without the help of local businesses. In addition to Cox Bros. BBQ, Meadowlark Hills Foundation would like to acknowledge returning sponsors McCullough Development and Flint Hills Beverage, as well as new sponsors, B104.7 and Powercat Illustrated/GoPowercat.com.

Please circle Oct. 13 on your calendars and support HOGtoberfest in one of the ways described. It’s sure to be a day of FOOD, FRIENDS and FUNdraising!