KATAR Holdings Inc. Hosts Second Annual Cheese Stick Eating Contest for United Way
On Jan. 11, a Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurant in Ohio, played host to a cheese stick eating contest to benefit the United Way of Ashland County. The event, which made its debut last year, returned this year and featured an expanded field of 15 competitors.
The Buffalo Wild Wings in Ashland, Ohio, hosted the second annual Cheese Stick Eating Contest to benefit the United Way and saw a full house.
The cost to enter the competition was $150, and the event also had raffle tickets available for purchase. Between the two sources of income, the contest raised around $2,500 for the United Way’s Caring for Our Own campaign – a 40 percent increase over last year’s total.
“We hope to grow this event even further with increased participation from the community, but we can’t help but be pleased with the amount raised, the turnout and the spirit evidenced by both the competitors and the sponsors,” said Brian Dill with Lake Erie Frozen Foods, who was a co-sponsor and provided the cheese sticks. “Ashland County is a great place to live and work, and when you have a chance to come out and raise money to help make it even better, it is a privilege.”
Ken Brown, left, and Brian Dill, right, pose for a photo with the winner of the contest, Ben Clark, who ate 28 cheese sticks in five minutes.
Out of the 15 competitors who were representing 11 local companies, Buffalo Wild Wings’ very own Ben Clark was crowned the winner, consuming 28 breaded mozzarella cheese sticks in the five-minute time limit – a number just one cheese stick shy of last year’s record of 29 cheese sticks, set by Richie Taylor. The runner-up in this year’s contest was Trevor Callaham, representing Diamond Pallets, who consumed 22 cheese sticks.
The Ashland, Ohio, B-Dubs® restaurant had relocated three weeks prior to the competition, and staff said that there was a lot of excitement between the new location and the contest. While an exact number of spectators was not kept, employees noted that the restaurant and patio were both full, and they believe the event increased sales.
“When Brian Dill approached me last year about the idea, I was a little unsure how people in the community would react to this type of fundraiser,” said KATAR Holdings Inc. franchisee Ken Brown. “I was surprised when I walked into the restaurant to see our back bar area packed with excitement. This year’s event was much better with the new location and extra space, and I look forward to next year’s event.”