Spring BBQ Raises Money for K9s for Warriors

Our Spring BBQ was a raging success to say the least.  We had record breaking numbers in both crowds and dollars.  Overwhelmed with positive emotions is a least of the words that I can use to describe how the day went.

We are so thankful for all the help we received this year.  Thank you to our sponsors...Advanced Pro, MSE and John Mull's Meats.  Without them, it would have been very difficult to fund the event. 

Huge thank you's go out to all the guys who offered to help our with the cooking.  It was quite an undertaking.  We prepared a 90+ pound whole hog, 12 racks of ribs plus a big stash of rib tips, 7 briskets, 4 pork butts, 7 dozen hot dogs and 40 pounds of leg quarters.  

Mike, Scott and Timm started in about 11:00pm Friday night prepping the hog to go in the pit by midnight.

The rest of the crew came in the morning to trim chicken, and get the ribs, brisket and butts into the pits. 

They did an amazing job! 

Yes, you are seeing correctly...we had 3 large pits going to cook all the meat...

and a grill for the hot dogs.

Thanks to Scott, Mike, Leon, Steve, and Robert for pulling off this ginormous effort. 

And, we can't thank Jason with Satisfied Hogs for the use of their pit.  That's huge, because I don't think Timm would lend out our pit to anyone...okay, maybe just one or two people. 

My brother, Nelson and my dad, Don carved up the hog for everyone. 

Chris and Robert got all the tables covered.

Chris also made sure we got a bounce house for the kids and put together to looping video about K9s for Warriors. 

We had about 190 people come out for the event.  (I think missed a few at check in)

No one went hungry Saturday, that is for sure.  

Thanks to Veronica and Marty for handling the silent auction.  There were some great prizes in those baskets, along with 2 wreaths from Twiddlebugz, a quilt donated by Jane, and some yummy homemade goodies from Say Hello to My Little Smoker.  They also managed to get 2 tickets to Blue Man Group and a night's stay at Monte Carlo.  We raffled that prize off. 

Timm even climbed up on the rook to get a photo for K9s for Warriors 'Stop 22' campaign.  Notice every has two fingers up on each hand...22.

We are so proud to be able to host this event and even more pleased to be able to donate 100% of donations to K9s for Warriors to help train and place rescue dogs with our veteran warriors suffering from PTSD and TBI.  All together, $6005 was collected through the event page on their website and collections at the barbecue. Our friends, family and co-workers gave with their hearts. God's hands were on this whole event that's for sure.  

It was on honor to host our annual Spring BBQ and to have it benefit an organization that supports two things so close to our hearts...our veterans and our furry friends...and when they are put together, its even better. We look forward to being able to work with them again and want to continue to support their efforts.

Again, thank you to Advanced Pro, MSE, and John Mull's Meats for their sponsorship.  Thank to all our volunteers...Mike Verner, Leon Drew, Steve Roy, Robert Schnerch, Scott and Christy Martin, Mark Fosdick, Chris an Bri Martin, Don and Jane Grandjean, Nelson Grandjean, Samantha Patterson, Marty and Veronica Coon, Tony and Brenda Lloyd.  Thanks to Gay Guymon for the 6 trays of desserts, Larry and Susan, and Tony and Brenda for the use of their cornhole games and to Jason from Satisfied Hogs for the use of his pit.  Thank you to all who gave services and/or items to the silent auction as well.  You guys all rock!

Thank you to everyone for all the support you gave us and K9s for Warriors.  Please 'Like' them on Facebook, follow them on Instagram, and be sure to check out their website at K9sForWarriors.org.  

Spring Barbecue 2015...'Cueing For A Cause

Please join us, eat championship barbecue, and donate generously to a worthy organization.

Can't make it...donate directly at our event page on their site.  

http://k9sforwarriors.donorpages.com/MyEvent/TrailhoundBBQ/

Be sure to check them out at K9sForWarriors.org

Spring BBQ benefiting Operation BBQ Relief

For the last few years we''ve hosted a Spring BBQ at our home, inviting family, friend and co-workers.  This year we were blessed with amazing weather for the event.  The wind stopped, and we enjoyed a warm sunny day.

Our boys came around 11:00 pm to start prepping the pig.  Our friend, Jason also came over to get his hands on some pig prep.   It cooked twelve hours and turned out amazing.  People really get a kick out of it.  

It turned out great! 

My dad is official pig carver.  He loves chatting with ever

yone as they get some delicious pork.

Eighty two people came to enjoy a great BBQ meal and donate for the cause.  No one went home hungry...in fact, many took home extra food for another meal.

We still have some donations coming in, then we'll be sending a nice donation to Operation BBQ Relief. For those who don't know about them, please go check them out at http://operationbbqrelief.org 

Huge thank yous to all who donated to this worthy cause.  

Kick-Off BBQ...part 1

Saturday was a really long day, chilly, windy, and full of family, friends and...BBQ!  A few weeks ago we were trying to figure out how we could raise a few bucks to get us started in our first competition in July...and being in Scouts as long as we were, we said, "Let's throw a BBQ."  It will give friends and family a chance to taste what we're doing and hopefully raise a few bucks to cover expenses and get us down the road a ways.  Planning started then and there, a flyer was created, emailed and passed around, and RSVP started coming in.  Last week, we finalized plans, shopped (and gasped), and stuffed fridges and freezers with all that was needed, tables and chairs were borrowed from work.  Anyway, here are a few pictures of the process during the day.  Look for more pictures in post #2.

Sunday began at 2am, as Timm lit the wood charcoal with his propane torch it looked like fireworks in the night sky. 

Pork butts went on at 2:30am, brisket went on at 7am.  Brisket just put in the pit in this photo, butts have been in for 4 1/2 hours here.   One of the best parts of the day was at 7:30am when Scott showed up.  He called into work and showed up to help out the team.  I know it would have killed him to not be there.

Prepping 10 racks of ribs.  Mark came by early to visit and take care of business.

The Martin men taking care of mass quanitities of meat, checking temperatures, adding water to the pit.

MMMMM...mighty tasty looking pork butt (if I say so myself...I wish this was smell-o-vision)

Bottom rack full of ribs, top rack...brisket, pork was just pulled off.  (It's a thing of beauty...lol)

Thirty pounds of chicken legs and thighs.

Scott chopping pork butt, my dad helping out.  My mom broke her ankle in 2 places and foot on vacation a few weeks ago. (She is totally frustrated she can't help out right now.)

One happy Scott with a pan full of chopped pork.

Brisket....look at that smoke ring.  It tasted like heaven.

Pork ribs...just some of many.

Kick-Off BBQ...part 2

More photos from the kick-off BBQ.  This is what the day was really about...family and friends getting together for a great time...despite the weather.  Who da thunk it?  Sixtyfive degrees near the end of May in Las Vegas...we've often had 100 degree days at this point.  We had a cool, breezy day but prayers were answered and almost everyone showed up (wearing jackets).  When it was time to serve dinner the sun came out and the wind stopped (we ended the day with a light sprinkle).  I think everyone truly enjoyed dinner.  There were lots of smiles on faces as they were dining on on some mighty fine 'Q.

Dave and Cindy

Nelson and Adam

Adrienne, Kari and Linda

Alan and Liz, Dave and Sue

Dad, Amanda, Nelson, Carolyn, Sam, and Donny

Jerrad, Sara and Makena, Arne and Brenda

Us...Timm, Crystal, Chris, Christy, Scott...Trailhound Smokers.

We pulled it off!  Everyone had a great time, they loved the food (got great reviews on the beans as well), we covered expenses and we'll make it to Williams for our first competition.

We ended up with 65 people and went through 43 pounds of ribs, 30 pounds of chicken, 30 pounds of brisket, 30 pounds of chopped pork, plus all the sides.  No one left hungry. In fact, there was very little left over...only 6 slices of brisket, no ribs, just some rib tips, 1/2 pan of chopped pork, and 1 pan of chicken.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for making this event great and making it all possible!

Look for us as we join a competition or two...we'll be in Williams, AZ on July 2nd and July 3rd.