Pork team tops cattlemen in steak-eating contest

When Iowa Pork Producers Association Past-president Greg Lear of Spencer was asked to enter a team in the Clay County Cattlemen’s annual steak eating fundraiser this week, he knew exactly who he would ask to be his teammate.

He called on fellow IPPA Past-president Bill Tentinger of Le Mars. Together, they made a formidable steak-eating team and they proved it May 20 at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer.

Competing against 12 other two-person teams of local celebrities, including the defending champion cattlemen’s team, Lear and Tentinger blew away the competition by consuming 4.77 pounds of grilled steak in 25 minutes.

They even brought in their own bacon to eat with the grilled beef because, as Lear put it, “everything goes better with bacon.” Tentinger said the cattlemen were a bit dismayed by having to cook up bacon on their grills, but they relented.

The pork team took a lot of good-natured ribbing from the cattlemen during the evening, but Lear and Tentinger agreed that they “stole the show” and had a great time.

“We took one for the team while out promoting pork,” Tentinger said.

Each team donated $1 for each ounce of steak consumed and the event raised just more than $800 for a local charity. Of course, the largest donation came from the pork duo.

As winners of the 12th annual event, Lear and Tentinger automatically qualify to return next year to defend their steak-eating title.

Source: Iowa Pork Producers Association