Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department Chief Stacy Rueter, pictured at left, and Assistant Chief Josh Young wrap ribs, cooking up the leftover meat from the HVFD Family Fun Day rib cook-off Sunday, May 21. —Johnson Publications
Kylee Smith, at right, races ahead of Savannah Emmerich in the Stop, Drop and Run 5K at the Family Fun Day event. —Johnson Publications
Firefighters cook up some Family Fun
Don’t worry folks — it was the good kind of smoke emanating from Homesteaders Park Sunday, May 21, as the Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Family Fun Day brought together grilling, fitness, fun, family and guns.
As just the second time the event has been hosted in this format, HVFD Chief Stacy Rueter said the event had grown from last year, with 56 entries in the Stop, Drop and Run 5K. There were nine in the rib cook-off, up from five last year, and Rueter said next year they’re hoping for 20 entries.
Allie Balog was the winner of the 5K, followed by runner-up Gina Martin. Wayne Bahler took first place in the rib cook-off, with Brad Stuckey earning the second most votes.
Grilling was judged by the public, who offered freewill donations for the chance to rate the ribs.
In addition, an AR-15 was raffled off at the event, going to Ted Mollendor of Julesburg.
The event is HVFD’s main fundraiser of the year, said Rueter. Besides good ribs, a nice firearm and running, attendees enjoyed inflatable slides and obstacle courses, soccer, corn hole and video games in the Dozers Games trailer at the Family Fun Day.
Seaboard Foods provided the ribs, Happy Jacks Barbeque did the extra cooking for meals, and Jack’s Bean Company donated the beans for the community event.