The weather was a surprise (no rain!) but the success of the “Dog and Suds” event wasn’t, as this sizzling competition gets hotter every year.  The action took place on Friday, June 4 on Main Street in Biggar with Great Plains College and Prairie Malt teaming up to host the event (which benefits the Great Plains College student scholarship program) as part of Biggar’s annual Community Fair. A whopping $2100 was raised.

This is the 3rd year Great Plains College has hosted a cook-off and by the size of the crowd it was highly anticipated. The hot dog cook-off allowed chefs to dress up a plain hotdog in a style of their choice. There were many familiar faces from previous years, as well as new cook-off participants entering for the first time.

“Prairie Malt values and benefits from the colleges’ education and training contributions to the community,” says Terry Surik, Marketing Coordinator, Prairie Malt Ltd. “We enjoy teaming up with the college to collaborate in community events such as this, it shows what partnerships are capable of doing.”

The first place winner with a hotdog wrapped with bacon, and smothered in chili sauce, sour cream and cheese was the Biggar Fire Department. Second place went to the Biggar Credit Union with their tasty secret sauce topped with fresh sliced peppers.

Teams were also asked to create a display dog in the “Hot Diggidiest Dog” category. The Hot Diggidiest Dog prize went to The Majestic Theatre with their flower and vegetable creation. Special mention went to Biggar Fire Department’s “HOT DOG!” .

Prairie Malt co-hosted with a hospitality tent featuring “Biggar Beer”. Representatives of Sierra Nevada Brewing from Chico, California were in attendance handing out samples. To make “Biggar Beer”, producers from the Biggar area who supplied the barley to Prairie Malt were flown out to California to the plant there to have a hand in its making. After completion, some of these kegs of the beer were brought in for locals to taste. Great Plains also hosted a beer garden with delegates from Great Western Brewing in attendance. Prairie Malt’s product is also used in the making of Great Western beer.

“Prairie Malt values and benefits the colleges’ education and training contributions to the community and also enjoys teaming up with the college to collaborate in events such as this,” says Terry Surik, Marketing Coordinator, Prairie Malt Ltd.

Community spirit was evident in everyone involved: even in the construction crew working on the new addition to the Credit Union next to the site of the event who came to the rescue and helped when the wind was playing havoc on the tent.

“Prairie Malt’s support was vital in the success of this event and we are so appreciative of the partnership with them.” said Keith. “The participation of the cooking teams: the Biggar Credit Union, Biggar Fire Department, The Majestic Theatre, Biggar Central School 2000 and Prairie Malt/Sierra Nevada are exemplary, greatly appreciated and also vital to the event’s success. Thank you to the Town of Biggar for their help and a special thank you to the staff at Great Plains as it takes support from all members of our team to put on an event like this and our staff definitely went above and beyond to do whatever was needed.”

Rob MacDonald and Chantelle Huber of CTV News were also on-site filming and broadcasting the six o’clock news as part of their Hometown Tour.

For more information on the scholarship program at Great Plains College or its academic programs visit www.greatplainscollege.ca