Deep Americana
BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
The Life Church plays a central role in the fabric of the Wood River Valley. Members have a deep love of people and actively create community with events like their Family Fun 4th—a free, all-ages, family day with an atmosphere filled with community vibes.
Pie
When you see it, you know it, instantly. It’s not often you see a pie-eating contest but it’s so familiar as to be almost genetic. Some may remember the movie “Stand By Me”
where a pie-eat went haywire but there’s a deeper connection. Epically North American and purely festive with downhome charm, a pie-eating contest always brings out a smile in conversation.
Pie eats can be traced back to the early 1900s and have evolved into the world of competitive eating. “The first recorded pie-eating contest occurred in Toronto in 1878,” for which the prize was a ‘handsomely bound book.’ Nearing the turn of the century, pie-eating contests became embroidered deep in our mythical Americana. A
symbol of abundance, they were often held at county fairs and holiday celebrations.
“There are some notable examples of early eating contestants, such as Joe McCarthy, who consumed 31 pies in a competition held at Charles Tanby’s Saloon in 1897. Frank Dotzler is also noteworthy after consuming “275 oysters, 8 & 1/8th pounds of steak, 12 rolls, and 3 large pies, all washed down with 11 cups of coffee’ at an event organized by the Manhattan Fat Men’s Club in 1909.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competitive_eating)
Life Church Love
The pie-eating contest by The Life Church is an annual event widely anticipated and beloved in the community. There was a lot more, though, as they had free snowcones, low-cost food plates—this year pork and coleslaw—and, of course, the pies. There were bouncy houses, face painting, races, games, and even a mechanical bull. It’s events like these where you get to know your extended neighbors and weave the fabric of genuine community. Last year’s turnout edged over 1,000 and this year it came close.
“The Life Church put this on to love and support our community. We love our community and our families. We want to find ways to provide family-friendly events and so we partnered with the city to provide this free of cost to the families.” “Cheri Reinke of The Life Church volunteered the day to make it happen.
“It’s so much fun. It’s just a traditional pie-eating contest—whoever finishes first wins!”