Cargill named 2017 #1 Cheeseburger team
The 12th Annual Cheeseburger Festival is now in the history books and bragging rights belong to Cargill for their first place win with a jalapeño popper dip cheeseburger, the FISD Football coaches (and spouses) “Big Red” for their 2nd place grilled cheese topped cheeseburger, and Whiteface Ford “Patty Daddies” for their People’s Choice old-fashioned cheeseburger. Cargill donated their $1,000 prize to the Action for an Ambulance Fund.
Additional teams competing this year were Street Auto Group, Xcel Energy, First National Bank, Southwest Cheese “The Bolds”, TB Square (Three Brothers Squared), and High Plains Farms.
Judges for the event were Lauren Heinrich from Congressman Jodey Arrington’s Lubbock Office, Clovis City Commissioner Tom Martin, Amarillo Globe News writer Jon Mark Beilue and Veteran Cheeseburger Judge Scott Hayward.
Approximately 3,000 festivalgoers were not disappointed by the cheeseburger offerings. Original creation cheeseburgers and new flavors were served up from 11:30 a.m. to well past 2 p.m. Eager and hungry cheeseburger connoisseurs were still lining up well past 2 p.m. to get a taste.
DJ Jack Light kept the park jumping with a wide variety of music.
There were 30 vendors offering everything from face painting, homemade ice cream and cool water games. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the day filled with food, friends and fun.
The Friona Noon Lions did not disappoint with their World Famous fries to compliment the cheeseburgers.
The winner of Cow Patty Bingo was Austin Boyles who took home the $400 prize. Del Rio Dairy donated the services of Buttercup, a Swiss cow, for the game. The funds raised from the sale of squares were donated to the Action for an Ambulance Fund.
The Friona Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture hosts the Cheeseburger Festival each year with the help of donations, volunteers and supporters. This year’s donations, volunteers, and supporters were: Cargill Meat Solutions of Friona, Dairy Max, Lowe’s Marketplace #3, Bruce Lee – ATM, KTQM, Legacy Pump & Irrigation, Ben E. Keith, the Judges, Friona Star, Miller Paper, Southwest Cheese, W.T. Services, Inc., Chisum, Brent Loflin, Friona ISD Athletic Department, Texas Department of Agriculture, Hilmar Cheese, Parmer Medical Center, Bi-Wize, Affiliated Foods, Texas Beef Council, Atmos Energy, Republic Services, Parmer County Agri-Life Extension, Vet Industries, Hi-Pro Feeds, City of Friona, Texas Youth Association, KNNK, Xcel Energy, Del Rio Dairy, Interior Expressions, Kingdom Keys Network, Randy Geries, Susie Springs, Jayn Looper, Amarillo Globe News, Whiteface Ford, TB², High Plains Farms, Street Auto, First National Bank, all of the vendors, and KENW.
“Thank you for supporting Friona’s 12th Annual Cheeseburger Festival and Cook-Off!” said Friona Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Chris Alexander and the entire board of directors.
Start making plans to attend, and possibly compete at the 13th Annual Cheeseburger Festival on July 21, 2018.
