Blandinsville native Jan Runner, along with 2 Doors Down, will once again host the Annual Blandinsville Steak Cook-Off, Saturday, Aug. 22 on Main St., in downtown Blandinsville.
The Steak Cook-Off took off 17 years ago when the town of Blandinsville decided to build a lasting memorial site to honor its veterans. Their goal was to raise $40,000 for the project, which would be built on Main Street. It would honor veterans who served from Blandinsville, Sciota and Good Hope When the town decided to erect a memorial to the veterans, Jan, and friend Gary Forker, owner of Two Doors Down, were eager and willing to do anything possible to help raise funds.
Seventeen years later, their event is still taking place and now raises funds for the Great River Honor Flight and the Blandinsville Memorial's maintenance. Most of the money collected, usually 100%, goes to the Honor Flight, as the Blandinsville Memorial is known to be one of the nicest and best maintained in the area.
The steaks are donated by Runner, who also raises Angus and commercial cattle. Each contestant gets five steaks to work their magic with. A donation can is placed in front of their stations. The public can sample a sliver of the steaks and vote with their wallets by putting cash in the donation cans. There will also be hors d'oeuvres and desserts available for the public's sampling and judging.
People who want to eat a full meal will be able to purchase ribeye sandwiches, chips and a soda or water. There will also be be an ice cream truck. Alcoholic beverages will be available at Slups (inside and out) and Two Doors Down.
The steaks are judged by three official judges on presentation, taste and overall satisfaction. There will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd place cash prizes. The People's Choice winners will be determined by which grill collected the most cash in their bucket.
Cook-off begins at 4 p.m., music by The Unforgettables will begin on the stage at 5:30 p.m. and will last until 10 p.m.
At 6 p.m. there will be a break in the Cook-Off for the formal introduction including the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, a gun salute, some brief speeches from, and about, local veterans, and the playing of 'Taps.' Bagpipers will also be part of the entertainment.
Raffles are being sold for a chance to win a quarter beef donated by Rick and Shawnee Huston, a meat bundle donated by Rockin D's on the Ridge and a 35lb hamburger bundle donated by Tim Jack. Anyone can purchase the raffle tickets by contacting Ben Thompson at 309-255-3150; Runner 405-334-2653, Industry Elevator; Tim Jack 309333-7140; Jan Runner 309-255-1727 or stop by Tinks in Blandinsville or 2Doors Down. There will also be a live and silent auction throughout the evening.
Last year's Annual Steak Cook-Off collected around $10,000 and in 2024, the total was $15,000 - enough to fund an entire plane for the Great River Honor Flight, bringing the total since inception to approximately $70,000. Runner's goal was $50,000, his latest goal is $100,000 The Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that flies veterans from the Tri-States area to Washington D.C. to visit memorials that honor their service and sacrifices. The program was established in 200- with the service groups from both sides of the Mississippi River participating, primarily the Exchange Club of Quincy and the Rotary Club of Hannibal. The hub's name, Great River, was chosen to honor the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
The money raised by the 17th Annual Steak Cook-Off will enable eight or more Veterans to go on the Honor Flight, depending on how much money is raised.
