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Community Corner

Here's The Beef!

Ravens Nest #26 hosted a 9-lb cheeseburger-eating contest to benefit a local family.

In the Ravens’ spirit of competition and community, four hearty teams from area Ravens Nests bellied up to the challenge of eating a 9-lb cheeseburger with all the trimmings on Sunday at Ravens Nest #26 at the

Each team had four members defending the honor of their Nest, while helping to make sure a local family has an Easter Dinner.

Admission to the spectacle was two cans or boxes of food.  By the time the burgers were dressed, four bins were filled with all varieties of goodies.

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“I thought this would be a good way to have some fun and help out a local family going through hard times,” said Ravens Nest #26 President Debbie Behymer who organized the event said.

The first thing to know about this battle of wills is that no forks or knives were allowed.  Contestants had to literally dig in. 

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The next thing to know is that each burger was three pounds of beef with a pound of cheese.  Add lettuce, tomato, onions and hot peppers, then skewer a handful of pickles and stick them on top. This is beyond super-sized.

“Isn’t that something?” Chef Mary Ann Mumford said of the monstrous burgers.

Competitors, who came from the Baltimore area, all wanted to take home the purple trophy.

When asked why she would  do such a thing, Elaine Salisbury from Nest #34 in Sparrows Point said, “It sounded like a really fun thing, plus it’s for a good cause.”

 “It sounded like a fun, nice way to spend a Sunday,” added Angelo Campanella from Nest #2 in Rosedale.

But what Tricia Gurley from Nest #27 in Patterson Park wanted to know was, “Will there be bacon?”

Teammate Jenifer Maser added with a smile, “I’m willing to suffer for a good cause.”

According to Towne Pub and Restaurant owner Kelly Deitz, the credit for the idea of a 9-lb. burger competition goes to Matt Lapinsky, director of Public Works for Aberdeen.

“He challenged the other departments to the eat-off,”  Deitz said. The Pub hosted that event. “And then Debbie grabbed the idea for the Ravens Nest.”

When the burgers came out and were set before the contestants, the reality of the situation set in.

“We must protect this house,” said Shane Johnson from the home team. 

As the eating began, the last words heard from one contestant were, “This is a really good burger.”

Then, the work began. 

One handful at a time, the once-beautiful creations began to disappear.  Judging by the looks on the faces of these competitors, the eating became serious business at about the two-minute mark. There was no conversation amongst the, “Eaters,” as they called themselves.

The crowd cheered them on, and each Nest brought a few friendly faces to get them through this trial by beef.  Even the kids were chanting, “Eat, eat, eat.”

And then, there was a winner.  With a time of 9:35, Ravens Nest #27 was victorious. 

The two-woman, two-man team cleaned their collective plate.  It was messy work, but they did it.  And they have the bragging rights for the next year to show for it.  That, and a three-foot tall purple metallic trophy.

It’s fair to say a good time was had by all.

This was the first annual 9-lb burger-eating contest so there will be another one next year.  No doubt members of Ravens Nests far have heard about this unique challenge and surely many more will rise to the occasion next year.  Besides, no Raven's Nest can resist a chance at taking home a purple trophy.

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