23,000 chops on order for Porkfest

By ANN MARIE AMES ( Contact )   Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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PhotoVideo


Ron Weberpal sorts out pigs that are between 260 and 270 pounds to be loaded up and sold in a few days. The meat for the Pork Chop dinner at the fairgrounds will come from companies that buy pigs from Weberpal.

Ron Weberpal sorts out pigs that are between 260 and 270 pounds to be loaded up and sold in a few days. The meat for the Pork Chop dinner at the fairgrounds will come from companies that buy pigs from Weberpal.

— It's not your typical grocery order.

The Rock County Pork Producers have ordered 23,000 pork chops in anticipation of serving 6,000 meals Wednesday night.

For more than 30 years, the pork producers have been feeding thousands of hungry Rock County residents. The annual Porkfest is the group's only fundraiser, President Harold Sly said.

The money is used to create scholarships and to support the Rock County 4-H Fair meat animal sale. The producers also annually give money to several local charities, Sly said.

Rock County Porkfest

When: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

Where: The Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds on Craig Avenue, Janesville.

Cost: $7 for a one-chop meal and $8 for a two-chop meal. Seasoned, uncooked chops will be sold in packs of four for $8.

Drive-through: The drive-through will open at 4 p.m. Enter the fairgrounds via gate 2, which is on Memorial Drive at the northwest corner of the grounds where the midway is during fair week.

The drive through is "not McDonald's," UW Extension Agent Randy Thompson said. Although the drive-through process gets faster every year, plan to wait for a few minutes in the car to take your chops home.

Other events: Music by Joe Roberts and the Country Classics; tug-o-war competition between WJVL 99.9 and HOG 105.9; children's activity area.

The hosts: The Ron Weberpal family will host the event. Weberpaul raises 1,800 crossbred hogs on his farm on County M in Johnstown Township east of Janesville.

Weberpal runs a hog finishing operation. That means he buys young pigs that weight about 40 pounds. He feeds them a mix of corn, soybean meal and dried distillers grains.

It takes four months and one week to get the hogs to their sale weight of 270 pounds.

Walworth County Fair Pork Chop Cookout

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24.

Where: Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn.

Menu: Two boneless pork chops, baked potatoes, applesauce, Cole slaw, rye bread, a beverage and ice cream. Carryouts are available.

Cost: Advance tickets cost $9 for adults and $7 for children 12 and younger. Tickets at the gate are $8 for children and $10 for adults. Tickets are on sale now at Wilson Meats-Elkhorn; Millard Feed Mill; 1st Banking Centers; Lakeland Bakery; Sorg's Packing; Walworth State Bank locations; Lake Geneva Country Meats; the Walworth County Fair Office; People's Bank of Elkhorn; Franks Country Market; AXA advisors.

Details: Country Idol competition starts at 5:30 p.m. at the park stage. Proceeds from the dinner will be used to repair the roof of the treasurer's office at the fairgrounds.

For more information: Call the fair office at (262) 723-3228.







reader COMMENTS (39)
worktowin
Jul 6, 2009 at 4:12 p.m.
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Actually, you are right; I heard it was a gift from the Budweiser Horses handlers who were appreciative of the barns and area to keep their prized horses in.

hannah
Jun 19, 2009 at 4:32 p.m.
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I would be affraid to report this for fear of the guy rolling over in his grave.

hannah
Jun 19, 2009 at 4:31 p.m.
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BURGLARY at 6:43 p.m. June 8, to the fair office at the Rock County 4-H Fair, Craig Avenue, Janesville. A 24-pack of Budweiser beer cans was reported stolen.

interesting- who was going to drink this beer???
left overs from bud wiser??

hannah
Jun 19, 2009 at 12:57 p.m.
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sorry horselvlgrl- "if he would NOT"

hannah
Jun 19, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
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I am the one questioning the Milan show. a lady called in after somebody said they ran out of FOOD at 630 and said they had plenty and served past 8 pm. I guess nobody else heard this lady but me.

I always question his show. If he would um and uh he could fit in more info.

LOVEISGOOD
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:22 a.m.
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Why isn't any questioning the Milan show ?

Horse girl , settle down . Hanna's a good egg who means well .

You seem to just want to fight ?

hannah
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:53 a.m.
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"All money is raised to benefit the youth!! You really do not seem to get it."

I tried to help out remember but the conflicting stories of running out of food sent me away.
I agree with somebody stating that $100's dollars of raw chops sold to single cars in line. there should be some kind of reasonable limit so all can have some and help out.

hannah
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:50 a.m.
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somebody DONATED land for them once BUT nobody wanted it.

I didnt say it was to be a drunk fest. I like to eat my chops in a comfortable setting not a cafeteria style. what is wrong with that?

h0rselvngrl
Jun 19, 2009 at 6:59 a.m.
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"cause you ,heaven forbid, serve wine or beer at the fair cause of some dead guy. MOVE THE FAIR- bet youll get more income and I know that drunken argument will come up. must not be such an issue cause walworth fair still does it and if there were problems Iwould think they would stop." *Quoting Hannah*
*****
Hannah--> This is a 4-H EVENT, not a drunken event dear. ;) If you MUST have your alcohol, then walk to the fair grounds, get your dinner, and walk back home to have your "wine cooler". I think it's people like you that have forgotten the true meaning behind the pork dinner. All money is raised to benefit the youth!! You really do not seem to get it.
*****
And if you do not like the "decor" then don't go! If you want the fair grounds moved how would you suggest we come up with the money for this?? All of your thoughts, ideas, suggestions are so very welcomed!

Walker
Jun 18, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
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I think I figured out something about you now. Explains a lot.

hannah
Jun 18, 2009 at 3:33 p.m.
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and I cannot have wine with my meal then.
cause you ,heaven forbid, serve wine or beer at the fair cause of some dead guy. MOVE THE FAIR- bet youll get more income and I know that drunken argument will come up. must not be such an issue cause walworth fair still does it and if there were problems Iwould think they would stop.

I really like being penned up at a park so I can slam a wine cooler then have to leave to go eat my food. It would be silly to try to eat my food WITH my cooler.

hannah
Jun 18, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
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mike- like I said I was told NO MORE FOOD LEFT. i would have went home and walked to the fair got my chops and went back home. I dont prefer to eat in the bleachers or craig center. sorry dont prefer the decor.

MikeF
Jun 18, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.
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Maybe they stopped serving in the drive thru so there would be enough for the people who were eating on-site?
I know when I helped with clean up in the Craig Center that there were people sitting there eating after 8:00. I hope they hadn't been sitting there for 1-1/2 hours eating. Well, if they kept buying desserts that is ok. Just hope they weren't working on the pork chops that long.

hannah
Jun 18, 2009 at 2:37 p.m.
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horse girl - i am just stating what the lady said on the radio this am on stans show- she said still serving chops way past 8:30. I am irritated cause I have two completely stories here.

h0rselvngrl
Jun 18, 2009 at 1:22 p.m.
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Hannah--> Just an FYI see here: http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-ne...

h0rselvngrl
Jun 18, 2009 at 1:17 p.m.
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Rosewood~~> The pork fest is run completely on volunteers only. All of the money goes towards the 4-H/FFA events. This is an annual event as is the dairy breakfast, beef producers dinner( in August usually), 4-h open horse show, and other shows/events. It's a great way to help raise money for the many things that are needed for the 4-H/FFA youth. :)

rosewood
Jun 18, 2009 at 1:06 p.m.
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They are the best pork chops, I buy them every year-since they sold so many, have they ever thought about doing it 2-3 times a year instead of once. They must make enough money doing it because they do it every year now. I got there early from errands I was doing, it was 3:20 and the gates were suppose to open up at 4:00 but there was already a line and the gates were open about 20 cars ahead of me so they must have opened the gates at 3:00.

h0rselvngrl
Jun 18, 2009 at 12:57 p.m.
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Hannah~~~> They did run out, if you would go to the other article that states so, you would see :) (not being sarcastic).
*****
The drive-thru was packed when we came around 5:30ish. They DID run out of chops around 6:30-7ish, so noone was lying to you Hannah, calm down a little bit.

hannah
Jun 18, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.
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I was very angry to be told by janesville finest at 6:30 at the drive threw "they are OUT OF ALL FOOD"

only to hear on the stan milan show that they served till 8:30 and had plenty!!!!

he didnt say " you cannot go threw the drive threw right now, or you can come in and get food, NO I was told THEYRE OUT OF FOOD"!!!! the drive threw was NOT backed up either.

hannah
Jun 17, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
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theyre yummy- i heard pot salad and beans this year and bev?

chemical_6
Jun 17, 2009 at 3:14 p.m.
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What do you get in a meal?

Warden19
Jun 17, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.
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Tjncj, you are correct! That is the first thing I noticed when I read this article since I know some of the members of the "Weberpal" family and have been to the farm!

h0rselvngrl
Jun 17, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
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Nutty--> Yes you can :J)

tjncj
Jun 17, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
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LOL. Is that how you spell "Weberpaul"? I don't remember a "u" in it.

gocrew
Jun 17, 2009 at 11:16 a.m.
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Chops, chops, and more chops.

Several varities, though.

Pork chop, of course.
Chop Suey.
Tomohawk Chop. Atlanta Braves and Fla. St.
You could get your motorcycle chopped.
Maybe your car, also.
Lamb chop, but not this evening.
Karate chop, but I don't recommend it.
Chop wood, good exercise. But you must be careful not to sharpen your axe too much or you could slice a finger. That was a lesson learned by a certain CHOP.

If you personally are a CHOP, I suggest a shirt or bumper sticker letting people know that you are a CHOP.

Oh, and don't forget the minor league hockey team, the Iowa Chops.

h0rselvngrl
Jun 17, 2009 at 10:32 a.m.
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Rainbow had a prior commitment I believe. Jason is also going to be a daddy :)
****
I'm attending tonight, but not eating the pork :( Pork=upset tummy for me.

MaryFan
Jun 17, 2009 at 7:46 a.m.
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Be sure to purchase a dessert! Desserts are made and served by Rock County 4-H families with all proceeds going to support their clubs!

tjncj
Jun 17, 2009 at 7:45 a.m.
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That is a lot of CHOPS. Our county knows a chop when they see one. Sometimes they even hire them.

sttldwnjvl
Jun 16, 2009 at 11:31 p.m.
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Rummagesalesrock...that's exactly what I was thinking with the cute pigs

RummageSalesRock
Jun 16, 2009 at 10:13 p.m.
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OH! Rainbow Brige is AWESOME!

wHaTeVeR
Jun 16, 2009 at 8:35 p.m.
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What happend to Rainbow Bridge Band? They have played this for like at least 10 years????

RummageSalesRock
Jun 16, 2009 at 7:17 p.m.
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Sounds wonderful, but I could have done without looking at the cute pigs while reading about eating porkchops...lol.

worktowin
Jun 16, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.
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No; you get a whole meal. You can also purchase seasoned chops to take home & freeze for grilling later.

The Rock County Pork Producers are an excellent organization; everything they do benefits Rock County.

momof5
Jun 16, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.
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It says the menu for Walworth...does one "only" get chops in Rock County?

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