HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A fire truck, a BearCat, and around 400 people gathering at Monrovia Elementary School for some serious business - a hot dog eating contest and an old school rivalry.
Lieutenant James Filley with Monrovia Volunteer Fire/Rescue explains, "it's kind of a tale as old as time. The fire department versus the sheriff's office."
All mustarding up the courage for, "hot dogs talking about hot dogs..."
Relishing in the challenge of, "Monrovia's first annual hot dog eating contest…" hosted by Tastee's Restaurant Owners Steve and Jessica Middlebrooks.
30 contestants, those with Madison County Sheriff's Office, Monrovia VFR, and people who just really love hot dogs.
Rick McNamara, a hot dog eating contestant shares that hot dogs are "an average lunch for me at times."
All of them vying for the winning title, it got pretty intense.
Brent Patterson with MCSO witnessed people, "destroying hot dogs sitting here, and I was out, after one I was out."
So I'm sure you're wondering, firefighters or deputy sheriffs - who won first place?
Well it was actually neither, the hot dog eating champion is someone who decided to enter in on a whim, finishing 12 hot dogs in 5 minutes - that winner is Rick McNamara.
"It felt pretty good to actually sit around next to the fire department, police department… you know, as a little community to have fun with them. I highly enjoyed it," McNamara said.
And community is really what this event is all about, a contest hosted by Tastee's Restaurant supporting the nonprofit Next Step Farms, an organization providing opportunities for adults with special needs.
Robin Kramer, the CEO/Owner of Next Step Farms, explains, "we're teaching them how to live independently, teaching them daily living skills through an agricultural farm based things. Everything you do to run a small family farm, livestock, chickens, goats, pigs, to raising a garden, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, all of those good things we all love."
$2,500 was raised on Saturday and these funds will go towards building a storm shelter for Next Step Farms.
"But it's not only just for us. It'll be so that we can cross the street and get our neighbors when there's bad weather and say, hey, come on in with us. Let's all be safe together," Kramer said.
So it's safe to say, the contest had some friendly competition, all for a good cause.
"My heart is very full," Kramer said.
Leaving both hearts and bellies full, for some, but not for McNamara, "I'm going to go get some more food. I'm hungry…"
And Tastee's plans to do this all again next year.