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American Legion, Auxiliary preparing for poker run, cookoff competition
SIKESTON — The Sikeston American Legion and Auxiliary are gearing up for the annual poker run and cookoff competition in an effort to continue providing funds for the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
The “Ninth Annual Poker Run and Cookoff” will be April 29-30 at the American Legion in Sikeston.
“It’s a big, family event,” said Tom Staggs, first vice for the American Legion Post 114 in Sikeston.
All proceeds from the two-day event go to the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
“It’s a state-run facility, which means the state only gives so much money for certain things and everything else comes out of donations,” Staggs said of the cemetery.
In nine years, the Legion has raised $144,062 and helped fund the following projects (not funded by the state) at the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield: bell tower system, enclosed committal facility with glass windows and doors; installed heating and air conditioning in committal facility; sound system for committal facility; portable gas engine, heated power washer; carillon tower repair; equipment repairs, professional custom application of broadleaf, weed control and fertilizer; and red, white and blue lighting for the pond fountain.
In the event’s first year, the goal was to raise $6,000, and $10,000 was raised. The event and the amount raised continues to grow each year.
Throughout the years, the Sikeston American Legion has become the largest contributor to the cemetery, according to cemetery officials.
The two-day event begins at 5 p.m. Friday, April 29 with registration for the bean bag toss tournament until 6:30 p.m. The tournament will be played inside the Legion building beginning at 7 p.m. First, second and third place winners will be awarded. Entry is $40 per team.
Jimmy “Shaggy” Cantrell coordinates the barbecue cookoff competition and Ultimate Flooring Wing War.
“You do not have to be in the wing war to compete in the big cook,” Cantrell said. “Anybody can cook in the wing war. Period. And they don’t have to cook in the big event. We supply the wings for that, too.”
The anything-goes wing war competition takes place Friday night of the event with a 75% payback, and wings will be provided for contestants.
Teams for the cookoff competition begin setting up Friday night, too.
“We have a team coming from Tupelo, Mississippi; two out of Nashville, Tennessee; one out of Memphis, Tennessee; and several Illinois teams inquiring and are supposed to be turning their entry forms in,” Cantrell said. “Local teams are up to speed on registering and normal participation.”
The Legion will provide all meat (pork butts, ribs, half chickens and ribeye steaks) and charcoal for the competition. The overall grand champion will receive $1,500, and additional cash prizes will be awarded. Entry fee is $200 per team, and the deadline to enter is April 24.
“We’ve added the ribeye and took out the pork steak in the competition,” Cantrell said.
Teams can also enter a mystery meat competition. There is no entry fee, and the mystery meat has to be grilled in some form. The winner will receive $200.
“This year’s mystery meat is probably going to be the best of all. I’m going to try to record the teams’ reactions when they see what it is,” Cantrell said.
Staggs who cooks in the competition said the mystery meat really is a mystery for the teams.
“They throw that in on us during our cook. We never know what it is,” Staggs said.
Last year’s mystery meat was was ground liver. In other years it’s been lemon, eggs and potato chips as a binder, Cantrell said.
“There is no recipe in Google for what the mystery meat is this year” Cantrell teased. “You can’t find it on Google, and recipes.com is out —but it’s sold in stores everywhere.”
The event continues the morning of Saturday, April 30 with registration for the poker run from 8 a.m. to 9:30a.m. Entry is $20 per bike and $5 per passenger. Cards will be drawn at each stop. Best hand wins $100, worst hand, $50 and bike traveling the farthest, $50.
While the poker run is going on, teams will be competing in the cook-off competition and will be judged later that day.
In addition, there will be a live auction by Most Wanted Auction Co. which is owned by a retired U.S. Marshall Charlie Doerge IV starting at 4 p.m.
Frankie Adams, commander of the Sikeston American Legion, who is coordinating the poker run and the auction, said the Legion has received several auction items including themed-baskets, a pole saw, office chair, gift cards and many others.
Pork steak plates for dine-in or carryout will be served starting at 11 a.m. for $10 per plate.
A representative with the Veterans Cemetery will be present at the event on April 30 for anyone who wants to be signed up for burial at the cemetery. Those interested should just bring a copy of their marriage license, if they’re married, and a copy of their DD214 form.
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For information or to enter: the poker run, call Adams at 573-380-6231; the cook off and wing war, call Cantrell at 573-703-5570; and the cornhole tournament, call 573-703-3651. Donations may be mailed to: American Legion Post 114, P.O. Box 1154; Sikeston, MO 63801.