BBQ_Mayor
is Blowin Smoke!
22 years of the BBQ'lossal has come to end. Sad day for many.
Friends,
As many of you have heard over the past few months, there was a good possibility that the Great Pork BBQlossal contest would not be returning in June 2010 and I regret to say, this is true. It has taken me this long to make the announcement as we had been talking to a group here in Des Moines that was interested but it’s not going to work as BBQlossal has been the past years, so I am now making the official announcement.
Many of you are aware that pork producers have been losing money for nearly two years now, first because of high input costs, but more recently because of a dramatic decline in the market price of hogs. Prices are not projected to return to break-even until late spring.
The National Pork Board gets its revenue from the Pork Checkoff, an assessment of 0.4 percent each time a producer sells an animal. When the price producers receive declines, so does the revenue the National Pork Board uses to fund its promotion, research and consumer information programs. In 2010, National Pork Board revenues are projected to be between 20 percent to 25 percent lower than they were in 2009. Overall, that represents a 2010 budget more than $10 million below the 2009 budget.
Looking back over the last 22 years, this contest has created a lot of excitement for pork. I remember the very first year. Robin and I had to go out in the wind and rain to collect entries from the teams. It was unreal. In year 3, we became sanctioned by KCBS and that made a world of difference. KCBS brought a strong program to the table and we have been together ever since.
We have had teams that brought their children with them and now those children are competing, and beating, their parents. We have had competitors from more than 20 states. We’ve had winners from nine different states. And we’ve had two repeat winners.
Most important, we have forged friendships over during those years that will last a lifetime. Thanks to all the judges, table captains, helpers, pig police and sponsors that supported us over the years. The contest would not have been as successful without you.
Finally, thanks to all of you who have come to Des Moines (and earlier to Springfield, Ill., and to Indianapolis) to compete. You have been the heart and soul of this great event.
I will never forget the good times, the rain, the heat, the wind and all the support you have given me over the past 22 years. I will get out to as many contests as I am able because you are truly a part of my family and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And you know me, I will continue to look for opportunities that could bring the Great Pork BarbeQlossal back to life!
A
Anne L. Rehnstrom
Marketing Assistant
National Pork Board
Friends,
As many of you have heard over the past few months, there was a good possibility that the Great Pork BBQlossal contest would not be returning in June 2010 and I regret to say, this is true. It has taken me this long to make the announcement as we had been talking to a group here in Des Moines that was interested but it’s not going to work as BBQlossal has been the past years, so I am now making the official announcement.
Many of you are aware that pork producers have been losing money for nearly two years now, first because of high input costs, but more recently because of a dramatic decline in the market price of hogs. Prices are not projected to return to break-even until late spring.
The National Pork Board gets its revenue from the Pork Checkoff, an assessment of 0.4 percent each time a producer sells an animal. When the price producers receive declines, so does the revenue the National Pork Board uses to fund its promotion, research and consumer information programs. In 2010, National Pork Board revenues are projected to be between 20 percent to 25 percent lower than they were in 2009. Overall, that represents a 2010 budget more than $10 million below the 2009 budget.
Looking back over the last 22 years, this contest has created a lot of excitement for pork. I remember the very first year. Robin and I had to go out in the wind and rain to collect entries from the teams. It was unreal. In year 3, we became sanctioned by KCBS and that made a world of difference. KCBS brought a strong program to the table and we have been together ever since.
We have had teams that brought their children with them and now those children are competing, and beating, their parents. We have had competitors from more than 20 states. We’ve had winners from nine different states. And we’ve had two repeat winners.
Most important, we have forged friendships over during those years that will last a lifetime. Thanks to all the judges, table captains, helpers, pig police and sponsors that supported us over the years. The contest would not have been as successful without you.
Finally, thanks to all of you who have come to Des Moines (and earlier to Springfield, Ill., and to Indianapolis) to compete. You have been the heart and soul of this great event.
I will never forget the good times, the rain, the heat, the wind and all the support you have given me over the past 22 years. I will get out to as many contests as I am able because you are truly a part of my family and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And you know me, I will continue to look for opportunities that could bring the Great Pork BarbeQlossal back to life!
A
Anne L. Rehnstrom
Marketing Assistant
National Pork Board
