New Lenox Fire's 'Controlled Burn' Cook-Off Raises More than $4,000

NEW LENOX, IL — The New Lenox Fire Foundation held their Fifth Annual “Controlled Burn” Beef Cook-Off on Saturday, July 30 in conjunction with Proud American Days in New Lenox.

The “Controlled Burn” Beef Cook-Off had a total of eight teams that competed for the trophy. Each team was given a 13-pound roast and had about three hours to barbecue before the judging took place. After judging, all beef was donated to the New Lenox Food Pantry.

This year’s judges were: Judy Neimann, Dunn & Niemann; Elizabeth Schwenke, Presence Health; Nick Reiher, Farmers Weekly Review; Marilynn Kurtz, Kurtz Funeral Homes; and Frank Gatto, Gatto’s Restaurant.

Winning team New Lenox Cancer Foundation headed by Joe Sforza took the title for the second year in a row.

“We want to thank all of our sponsors, teams, and judges,” said Tim Hartnell, President of the New Lenox Fire Foundation. “Because of them we were able to raise over $4,000 for our “Save a Life” program.”

All proceeds from the cook-off will be used by the New Lenox Fire Foundation’s “Save a Life Program” to purchase much needed equipment for the New Lenox Fire Protection District.

For more information on the New Lenox Fire Foundation or their programs, please contact Tim Hartnell, 815-462-0023, or visit www.nlfdfoundation.org.