Berrien County Farm Bureau’s June 25 membership event drew some 70 attendees to the County Sportsman’s Club in Berrien Springs for a barbecue meal, sander races and fellowship.
Marcellus-based food truck Scott’s Pig Roast provided a delicious pulled-pork and beef brisket with plenty of the traditional picnic side dishes.
During dinner members of the Berrien County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, including President Ed Kretchman, spoke about local Farm Bureau programming and emphasized the value of Farm Bureau membership.
Excitement escalated after dinner with seven members competing in double-elimination belt sander races. Officials refereeing the event include local Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Marty Rudlaff and Michigan Farm Bureau CEO Scott Piggott.
Piggott explained the race rules to the gathered crowd while Rudlaff organized contestants according to a race bracket made by Tera Baker, Berrien County’s Young Farmer co-chair. Baker also announced the races, generating excitement amongst the racers and audience members alike.
Two at a time, the sanders flew down the 48-foot track, built by board member Joshua Rick of Baroda. Rudlaff officiated the start while Piggott declared the winner as each heat crossed the finish line.
When all had taken their final run, Ed Kretchman’s “Warrior” sander was declared the winner by a long shot, besting Terry Koebel’s “Funny Farm” entry.
During dinner, tickets were distributed for voting for which sander each attendee thought would win the races and the sander with the best decoration. After the races were completed, the votes were tabulated and best-decorated honors went to Koebel’s “Funny Farm,” which featured a pig in a Farm Bureau t-shirt riding a cow “driving” the sander.
The evening rounded out with a great deal of fellowship and laughter as the bonfire was lit, the cornhole bags flew and the bounce house rocked with kids of all ages!
Jennie Koebel is the administrative manager for the Berrien County Farm Bureau.
