Texan Barbecue Feast Nourishes Communities Worldwide

By Chad Brinkman

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Being from Texas, I understand the inexplicable draw of slow cooked brisket over smoky wood and the hot, tangy bite of a well-prepared rib.  Whether a perk of my position, or owing to the fact that I have family that raised cattle in my youth, I convinced the good folks at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin that I should be a judge for this year’s Southwest Showdown Barbecue, held on February 22.  It was a sacrifice I was willing to make for the sake of Episcopal Relief & Development, and in support of all our partner communities that participate in our “Animals and Agriculture” programs worldwide.

From the moment I arrived in Austin, I was greeted warmly and treated like a rock-star by the wonderful students and staff of the Seminary.  As I set up my Episcopal Relief & Development table, person after person stopped by to thank me for coming all the way from New York for the event, and for the wonderful work of the organization.  The reality is I was thrilled to be there.  This was the event that everyone in the office wanted to take part in!  Who doesn’t love a big cookout and party? I was pretty stoked.

The night before, all of the teams rolled onto campus and fired up their grills.  Students took turns entertaining the crowd via the provided open mic, and all the teams, regardless of their affiliation, came together to enjoy one another’s food and friendship.  I could tell, as I walked through the various tents, that these were special people taking part in a truly unique event.

The morning of the showdown, people arrived by the dozens.  I stood at my table and answered questions about Episcopal Relief & Development, and listened to the wonderful stories of how people had personally been touched by the organization.  Many at the event had no connection to The Episcopal Church, but were excited nonetheless to eat some amazing food, listen to the music and enjoy the sunshine, all for a worthy cause. 

Before long, I was given word that my duties as a rib judge were about to begin.  I had forgone breakfast so that I would be ready for the rib smack-down that was about to take place.  Now, I don’t know if you have ever eaten 14 of the most delicious and uniquely individual pork ribs back to back, but let me tell you… a food baby grew inside me almost as big as the smile on my face.

Many people offered to bring me seconds, but I declined politely.  As the poster for the Southwest Showdown says, “There will be enough brisket and ribs to make you wish you wore your stretchy pants!”  Truth in advertising.

I spent the rest of the afternoon mingling with the five-hundred-some people who came to the event, listening to the very talented Tessy Lou and the Shotgun Stars, and watching as families and friends laughed and ate together.  One of the greatest privileges of the day was being asked to speak to the gathered crowd about the work of Episcopal Relief & Development, something I love to do, and to tell them how the money being raised together would be a source of abundance for our friends around the world, allowing them to share beautiful moments of fellowship like I was experiencing there in Austin.

This year’s competition raised over $5,000, more than double last year’s event. More than a competition, it was a brilliantly successful collaboration underscoring our belief that it takes all hands to heal a hurting world. Building on this success, the Seminary will take a more active role in the event next year, which up to this point has been completely student-run. If the growth this year is any indication, next year’s event is going to explode. I just hope I can convince everyone that I need to represent Episcopal Relief & Development for another year. I regularly have the honor to meet and work with many amazing individuals who support the work of the organization throughout the country. However, being a part of the 2014 Southwest Showdown was a very special experience indeed.

Images: Top, Middle 1, Middle 2, Photos capturing the event taken from Southwest Showdown Barbecue Image Gallery. Middle 3, Chad Brinkman as a judge. Last, Episcopal Relief & Development’s information booth. 

Healing the world starts with your story!

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