Oink! Now that the calendar has flipped to October, temperatures are cooling, but activities to benefit Meadowlark Foundation are heating up. It’s HOGTOBERFEST season, and here are a few squeal-worthy announcements! 

No. 1 – The 11th annual HOGTOBERFEST, an awareness and fundraising event to benefit Meadowlark Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25! 

No. 2 – You asked for it, and you got it! Meadowlark’s Prairie Star Restaurant and Event Venue is once again this year’s celebration location! 

No. 3 – The party will start early with Mr. K’s Mobile Kitchen at October’s Meadowlark Market and a special event menu available at Prairie Star! 

No. 4 – Cash & More Raffle tickets now are on sale; four HOG-tastic prizes are available.

No. 5– Event T-shirts will be available to purchase in a few weeks!  

In years past, HOGTOBERFEST has been a one-day event at a local restaurant, offering pulled pork sandwiches at lunchtime and a whole roast hog buffet in the evening. Cox Bros. BBQ (seven years) and then Kite’s Aggieville Draft House (two years) generously donated 10 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Good Samaritan Fund. 

For 2023 and again this year, event planners opted for a HOG-size celebration at Prairie Star, featuring food and beer specials prior to the event as well as a day-long party on Oct. 25.  All are welcome to enjoy this FOOD, FRIENDS, and FUNdraising event. A special HOGTOBERFEST menu, featuring pork as well as German-inspired fare, will be available beginning Oct. 19. The Prairie Star team will tempt us with schnitzel and gravy, bratwurst and sauerkraut, or a sausage trio platter, for example. A Bavarian-style pretzel with a German beer cheese dip will be added to the appetizer list, and for dessert, select apple strudel or Black Forest cake.  

On Friday, Oct. 25, stop by Prairie Star between the hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for lunch, dinner, or both. In addition to the special HOGTOBERFEST menu, a buffet is planned for lunch. See a future Messenger for the buffet menu. Prairie Star has pledged 10 percent of the proceeds generated from the special event menu as well as the buffet on the 25th to the Good Samaritan Fund.

Even though the event moved away from Aggieville, Scott Sieben, owner of Kite’s Bar & Grill, Mr. K’s, and Rockin K’s, again happily pledged his support by sharing proceeds from food sales and providing a raffle prize. Enjoy breakfast or lunch from Mr. K’s Mobile Kitchen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 18 or lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 19 at Meadowlark Market, 120 N. Scenic Dr. In keeping with traditional HOG Heaven foods, hungry customers will see ingredients such as sausage, bacon, and pulled pork among the selections. Mr. K’s is joining Prairie Star in donating 10 percent of the mobile kitchen’s sales to the Good Samaritan Fund.  

To add to the festive atmosphere at Prairie Star on Oct. 25, Taylor Kline and Mandy Kary of Niles, Kan., will entertain from 6 to 8 p.m. Those who attend in the evening will hear this dynamic duo sing and play original tunes as well as timeless Americana/folk favorites.

As referenced above, there’s a way to get into the HOGTOBERFEST spirit prior to the big day: purchase Cash & More Raffle tickets. For $5 a ticket, buyers will have the opportunity to win the following prizes: 
      1st prize: $2000 cash 
      2nd prize: Kansas City Getaway, featuring a stay at Ameristar Casino & Hotel. Value: $500. 
      3rd prize: $300 Meadowlark Market shopping spree  
      4th prize: $50 gift cards for Kite’s Bar & Grill, Mr. K’s, and Rockin K’s. Value: $150

Purchase a winning ticket TODAY at the Hospitality Desk, online at meadowlark.org beginning next week or by contacting a Meadowlark board member. Resident board members are Nyle Larson, Jo Lyle, and Karen Matthews. Help us reach our goal of selling 1400 tickets!  

All proceeds support the Good Samaritan Fund, which assists residents in a Meadowlark healthcare household who have outlived their financial resources. The Fund bridges the gap between reimbursement from the state of Kansas and the cost of quality care and life enhancement. In addition to Prairie Star and Mr. K’s, Meadowlark Foundation appreciates the continued generous support of Steel & Pipe Supply, McCullough Development, BHS Construction, Burnett Automotive, Flint Hills Beverage, GoPowercat.com, and N Zone. Ameristar Casino & Hotel-Kansas City provides support for the first time.

Please watch future Messengers for more details. Questions? Contact Becky Fitzgerald at (785) 323-3843.