‘Gettin’ Sauced’ competition brings awareness to veterans

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There may have been wind, but all it did was spread the good smells around for everyone to enjoy. Richardet Floor Covering hosted the sixth annual “Gettin’ Sauced” Barbeque Competition on Saturday. Even though it was windy, it could be considered a success.
“I think it went really well,” Gettin’ Sauced committee member Stephanie Richardet said. “There were more people that attended than in past years. The weather was perfect, besides the wind. However, I thought everything else was great.”
A total of 13 teams were provided with ribs, pork butt, and chicken and cooked those items with their own interpretations and recipes. The teams were judged on each individual meat by a panel and were placed in the top three in each category, as well as the top three teams overall.
Nathan Huber and the rest of the Perryville Outdoor Products team won the Brass Pig as the top as the top overall competitor.
Along with the Brass Pig, teams were also judged by those who attended. The Bank of Missouri team won the People’s Choice Award.
“Everyone walked around and taste tested what they cooked, which was usually something extra,” Richardet said. “People would put money in a jar that was tallied and also go to the veterans as well.”
Veterans were the whole point of the event, along with the food, of course. All the proceeds from the event will benefit veterans in one way or another. Richardet said that the cause was near and dear to the hearts of many of the committee members.
“One thing that those on the committee knew was that this was the least we could do,” Richardet said. “These veterans go and sacrifice their family time for us and risk their lives for us and this country. Our mission for this competition is to promote veterans organizations and provide financial support to organizations that help veterans.”

That mission goes a little farther than just giving money.
“We want to help purchase prosthetic legs and help pay for therapy to those who have PTSD,” she said. “There are so many organizations in Missouri alone that are able to provide these resources. The big thing they need is funding and that is one thing we felt that we could do to help.”
Last year, the event raised a total of $53,000 for these organizations and while the full sum has not be tallied for the 2022 version of the event, Richardet feels confident that they will at least match that total if not exceed it altogether.
“It means everything to me to donate that amount of money,” she said. “I didn’t go off and fight for my country in the military. However, this is the best way that we as a committee feel we can contribute. Veterans and the military need our support, they need our help.”
Richardet has also seen the competition grow over the more than half-decade the event has been put on.
“This used to be an event where we had six teams compete and now that number as doubled,” Richardet said. “The first year we made this event a fundraiser for our veterans, I think we donated about $20,000. This event has come a long way and we hope to continue that growth in the future.”
That growth is so important that Richardet and the rest of the committee for the competition met earlier this week to get a jumpstart on next year’s event.
“We are hoping to get more teams next year so we can have more items to taste test,” Richardet said. “We only hope that we can bring in veteran owned businesses so they can set up a booth to educate our community on what they do. We really want to get out there what we can do for our veterans and those younger members of the military.”