Large Crowds in Ave Maria for Several Events

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Published on Sunday, 30 January 2011 03:45

The weather was perfect, the crowds large and the steaks tender at the first Sunshine State Steak Cook-Off, which capped a day of events in Ave Maria that included the annual Family Fun Fest, several sporting events, and the opening of the new Del Webb model center. Right, an AMU student team of Patrick Simmons, Daniel Shnaider and Michael Santschi took third place in the steak cook-off.

Clouds of smoke from eight grill teams filled the town center Saturday afternoon as almost 400 people began lining up at the steak cook-off, which one of the judges -- Fox 4 morning anchor Lisa Spooner -- said was one of only a half-dozen such events anywhere in the United States.

An AMU faculty team -- calling themselves "Bovus Dei," took top honors in the steak cook-off, winning a trophy and a $1,000 cash prize. PBS construction's team placed second and the "St. Lawrence Grillers" -- a team of Ave Maria University students -- finished third. The faculty team, below left, included Joshua Lees, Ladislav Sallai, Mercedes Cox and Michael Dauphinais.

The team from Ave Maria Radio, calling themselves the Holy Cows (below right), was awarded the "Holy Smokes" award for the team with the best spirit, showmanship, appearance and hospitality.

"It was really hard to pick a winner, the steaks were all so good," said Kelly Guarascio of Ave Maria Development, who joined former Miami Dolphin and restarauteur Kim Bokamper, Ave Maria parish Pastor Fr. Robert Tatman, Ms. Spooner and four others on the judging panel.

The steak cook-off raised money specifically for a scholarship fund for children from Immokalee to attend the Donahue Academy in Ave Maria and money raised at other parts of the Family Fun Fest also will benefit the school.

Many people arrived in the town center after attending one of a number of other events happening in Ave Maria. There was a little league baseball tournament in North Park, Chicago Fire Juniors soccer, an AMU baseball doubleheader, AMU softball game, and -- south of the town center -- the opening of Del Webb's new 8,000-square-foot model center, attended by hundreds of people in the afternoon. Below right (top) the Holy Cows grill team, (bottom) the grill teams in action.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Left, members of the Florida Cattlemen's Association put on a display of calf roping as one of a number of demonstrations at the Family Fun Fest.

Below, the Collier County Sheriff's Office bomb squad demonstrated their robot (left), which exploded a small device (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left, sisters from the Donahue Academy look at one of the games at the Family Fun Fest.

 

Right, a large group at the new Del Webb model center.

The water balloon drenching station was a popular event, as always. Left, 1st grade teacher Robin Quastler.

Right, the day's events proved to be pretty tiring for Jack Imbus.