From a Rotary perspective purpose of the Smokin’ Heroes event is to develop a sustainable external funding source for Rotary-identified initiatives.
The event will also serve to provide the following:
- Public Safety entities will the opportunity to connect with the community in a non-enforcement setting.
- Unites several community groups for a common purpose; sharing resources, ideas, and results.
- Provides monetary support for Johnston Youth to attend the Kosovo (TOKA) cultural/service learning international camp
TOKA was developed to engage the youth of Kosovo to overcome the Kosovar/Serbian mindset that fueled the most recent war in Kosovo. The camp experience has evolved to provide service and cultural learning and understanding.
Johnston youth participate in this experience as part of our sister city relationship with Peja, Kosovo. Their participation provides US youth with a view of how Kosovar youth live, engage, and “deal” with their environment.
The US youth are particularly impressed by the comparative resilience of the Kosovar students.
The financial goal to for funding the Johnston youths’ participation in TOKA is about $10,000 for four students for the 10 day trip. The students are also responsible for a portion of the fund raising and for elective expenses during the trip.
Any funds raised beyond the $10,000 goal will be directed toward installing a Life-preserver station at Terra Park, erecting bike trail signs or as the club designates appropriate use of funds.
The event will be a meat smoking completion with a capacity of 15 teams. Each team will represent and include a member of law enforcement, fire department, or National Guard (military). The goal is to recruit five teams from each these three areas of protective service.
The competition will consist of smoked chicken, smoked pork loin, ribs (wet or dry) and a side dish of the smoker’s choice.
The contestant can begin setup at 5:00 am on Saturday, June 16.
At 7:00 am there will be a rules and food safety meeting and the meat will be distributed
At 11:30 am the sides will be submitted to determine the crowd favorite
At 12:00 pm the chicken will be turned in for judging
Ribs are due at 12:30 and Loin is due at 1:00
Entries are judged on texture, taste and presentation (without garnish)
A panel of celebrity judges will determine the winners – anyone know a prominent woman with a Johnston connection to serve as a judge?
Winners receive a large wrestling style championship belt
Those attending the event will be asked to pay a good will offering at the gate to taste the smoked meat and sides from all contestants.
Wind down at 4:30 and everyone is gone by 5:00.