Submitted by Happy Hog, HOGTOBERFEST mascot

 Oink! I’m pleased to see dollars filling the jars of our HOG & Kisses Contest candidates, which is part of our six-week HOGTOBERFEST celebration. After a month of voting, here’s how our potential kissers rank:

1.   Dave Rogers, representing First Christian Church. Dave is co-owner at Burnett Automotive and is a board member at First Christian

2.   Kyle Olson, representing First Lutheran Church. Kyle is Director of Spiritual Growth at FLC.

3.   Rev. Cam McConnell of First Presbyterian Church

4.   Rev. Susan Evans of Blue Valley Memorial United Methodist Church

5.   Rev. John Parsley of First Baptist Church

The candidate who raises the most money has the pleasure of kissing one of my favorite hogs, who currently lives at Parks Farm, east of Manhattan. The finale of the HOG & Kisses Contest is set for 6 p.m. on HOGTOBERFEST day, which is Thursday, Oct. 13, at Cox Bros. BBQ, 223 McCall Road. The churches named above are five of the six churches that came together in 1974 to discuss the creation of a retirement community, and Meadowlark Hills had its grand opening in 1980. We appreciate their involvement then and today. (Trinity Presbyterian is our other founding church.)

It’s not too late to vote for your favorite candidate, especially if YOUR candidate isn’t in first place. Donation/voting jars are atop the fireplace at the Village entrance. Donations for a candidate are tax-deductible because they benefit our Good Samaritan Fund.

In addition, please consider supporting HOGTOBERFEST by eating at Cox Bros. BBQ on Oct. 13. Cox Bros. is donating 10 percent of that day’s proceeds to the Good Sam Fund. Doors open at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Specials include $2 pulled pork sliders all day and a hog roast buffet and German beer tasting that begins at 6 p.m.

Transportation to Cox Bros. BBQ is available. Please register in the Blue Book.

A third way to support the event is to purchase 50/50 Raffle tickets, which are available at the Hospitality Desk and Verna Belle’s Café. 50/50 means 50 percent of the proceeds support our Fund, and 50 percent goes to YOU in CASH if your winning ticket is drawn. If you’d like to sell tickets to friends and family, please let Becky Fitzgerald know. The person who sells the winning ticket receives a $50 Visa gift card! Please help Happy and the HOGTOBERFEST team reach their goal of selling 6000 tickets!