Volunteers at the 35th annual 4-H tri-tip barbecue bear the intense heat while cooking slabs of tri-tip beef Sunday at the Sperber Arena of the Imperial Valley Expo. (Silvio J. Panta) |
IMPERIAL — As a row of volunteers cooked thick slabs of tri tip beef on a 20-foot-long barbecue grill Sunday, volunteer Yolanda Fiorenza, of the Magnolia 4-H Club, proudly explained the work that went into preparing the food.
People starting setting up Saturday but the cooking didn’t start until about 7 a.m. Sunday, said Fiorenza, of Brawley.
“It takes two days,” Fiorenza said. “But it takes two months of planning. This is the biggest fundraising of the year.”
What Fiorenza was referring to was the annual 4-H tri-tip barbecue fundraiser under way at the Sperber Arena of the Imperial Valley Expo.
Now in its 35th year, the family event was aimed at raising money for the program that is geared at fostering positive development among young people.
Thirty-five hundred pounds of tri-tip beef was cooked for the annual fundraising event whose goal was to serve at least 4,500 people, said Bo Shropshire, barbecue chairman.
In addition, 400 gallons of flavored pinto beans were cooked for the barbecue fundraiser as well, Shropshire said.
There were five serving lines for the event that was scheduled to start at noon and last until 5 p.m., Shropshire said.
Thirty percent of the gross sales is earmarked to go to the 17 4-H clubs throughout the Imperial Valley, Shropshire said, with the remaining portion of the proceeds slated to cover scholarships and awards for county events.
The rising costs of beef and other barbecue-related items was reflected in the price for the tri tip dinner — $8 — which is $1 more than what it was last year, Shropshire said.
But the beef, beans, salad and dinner roll, along with the inclusion of water or a lemonade drink, is still good for bargain hunters, said Shropshire.
Last year the barbecue raised about $26,000 but organizers are hoping to “be awful close” in coming up with the same amount or more as 5,000 tickets were on sale, Shropshire said.
After being involved in the civic event for the past 31 years, Shropshire could not help but breathe a sigh of relief as another year of tri-tip barbecuing got off without delay.
“It’s a great event,” Shropshire said, “But it’s (a lot) of work.”
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
People starting setting up Saturday but the cooking didn’t start until about 7 a.m. Sunday, said Fiorenza, of Brawley.
“It takes two days,” Fiorenza said. “But it takes two months of planning. This is the biggest fundraising of the year.”
What Fiorenza was referring to was the annual 4-H tri-tip barbecue fundraiser under way at the Sperber Arena of the Imperial Valley Expo.
Now in its 35th year, the family event was aimed at raising money for the program that is geared at fostering positive development among young people.
Thirty-five hundred pounds of tri-tip beef was cooked for the annual fundraising event whose goal was to serve at least 4,500 people, said Bo Shropshire, barbecue chairman.
In addition, 400 gallons of flavored pinto beans were cooked for the barbecue fundraiser as well, Shropshire said.
There were five serving lines for the event that was scheduled to start at noon and last until 5 p.m., Shropshire said.
Thirty percent of the gross sales is earmarked to go to the 17 4-H clubs throughout the Imperial Valley, Shropshire said, with the remaining portion of the proceeds slated to cover scholarships and awards for county events.
The rising costs of beef and other barbecue-related items was reflected in the price for the tri tip dinner — $8 — which is $1 more than what it was last year, Shropshire said.
But the beef, beans, salad and dinner roll, along with the inclusion of water or a lemonade drink, is still good for bargain hunters, said Shropshire.
Last year the barbecue raised about $26,000 but organizers are hoping to “be awful close” in coming up with the same amount or more as 5,000 tickets were on sale, Shropshire said.
After being involved in the civic event for the past 31 years, Shropshire could not help but breathe a sigh of relief as another year of tri-tip barbecuing got off without delay.
“It’s a great event,” Shropshire said, “But it’s (a lot) of work.”
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
