BELLE FOURCHE—For the third year in a row, State Street was home to the Save the Vets Charity Smoke Off competition on Saturday, August 9.
Armed Forces of America Motorcycle Club is the driving force behind the event and has been doing some sort of charity event every year for the past 12 years. Senior member, John Arthur or Sarge as he is known by, has been involved in the Club for 25 years and has seen the changes come about through the years. “So we started doing it here instead of a poker run, originally it started as a poker run, then the last two years, we decided to do a smoke contest and try to get the community involved—instead of just people that ride bikes,” he explained.
Angel Nash past owner of the Circle Lounge was a active force behind the move of the charity event to State Street. She coordinated it for the past two years. This year, Circle Lounge new owner, Kari Markley stepped in to help. “It was a little nerve wracking. I’d never done it before and so I was just trying to help, you know! We would like to do this again next year,” she said.
There were six businesses that stepped up to take part in the Smoke Off. First place in the meat category was Fire and Iron. Second place was to the Circle and Trisha Fowler and third place was Win or Lose, We Still Booze. All three winning teams donated their winnings back to the Save the Vet Charity. The total prize pot was $1335.
There was also a competition for the best side dishes. First place was Win or Lose, We Still Booze, second place went to Papa Smos and third place went to Fire and Iron for their smoked mac and cheese dish.
People’s Choice Award was voted on by the public after they tasted all of the smoked meats. The public placed tickets in the basket of their favorite dish. The winner was Win or Lose, We Still Booze.
In addition to the Smoker, a live auction, 50/50 raffle and a gun drawing were all money raising activities for the day. An art piece received the highest bid of the day bringing $750.00. At the end of the live auction it was announced that the auction brought in over $7000.
Each year the Armed Forces of America Motorcycle Club picks a charity to give the funds to. This year’s recipient is the SGT Colton Levi Derr Foundation, an organization that helps raise awareness about the profound challenges that veterans face while reintegrating into civilian life and provides resources to combat veteran suicide.
This is the second year in a row the Club picked this Foundation. Last year the Save the Vets event raised $12,000 for the group. “The SGT Colton Levi Derr Foundation helps out suicide and PTSD—helping veterans and their families—they do a lot in the area, it’s wonderful,” explained Mark Schild, Armed Forces of America MC member.
Bow Eckenberg of Armed Forces of America Motorcycle Club, Belle Fourche Chapter told the crowd, “Support the SGT Colton Levi Derr Foundation, they take care of us veterans and first responders. They care about us. It has been an honor to support them and be part of their lives and they are part of ours, if you want to learn more about them and why they started this program, please do!”
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