Tuff Foundation Celebrates Veterans at Annual Cooking 4 Courage

CONROE, TX – Since 2015, the Texans United for Freedom (TUFF) has hosted a barbeque cook-off, Cooking4Courage (C4C), to honor our Veterans, heighten awareness, and raise funds for PTSD recovery, re-acclamation and employment as a civilian, and offer supportive services to local veterans, active military, and first responders. Presented by Spirit of Texas Bank, C4C will be Friday, November 8 at 5:00pm and continuing all day Saturday November 9 from 10:00am until after 9:00pm.

TUFF is a local nonprofit consisting of Patriotic Texan volunteers dedicated to organizing community events to show support for those that keep us free and safe. There are three main programs under TUFF, the Cooking4Courage, Boots2Badges and TUFF Kids. Boots2Badges assists veterans with re-acclamation and employment by providing financial incentives for returning veterans to attend fire or police academy. Upon graduation, these veterans, with the participation and help of local law  enforcement, ESD’s and EMS, will be gainfully employed right here in Montgomery County.

TUFF Kids teaches children in K-12 about responsibility to their community, respect for their country, flag, military (active and veterans), and first responders.

Cooking4Courage began in Magnolia but moved to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in 2017 for a stronger presence and to facilitate more BBQ teams to participate. Beneficiaries of C4C include the TUFF Foundation, Lone Survivor Foundation VFW Post 4709 and Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare.

In 2018, 92 teams competed to receive $10,000 in cash and prizes from the 2 nd largest sanctioned BBQ Cook-Off in Montgomery County. First through fifth place winners are eligible for prizes in 4 categories-beans, beef brisket, pork spareribs, and chicken. There is a limit on teams, don’t delay!

From the 2018 Grand Champion Team, Wholey Smoked Cookers, “Cooking 4 Courage has been and will always be one of our favorite events.  Being a veteran run team, we believe our men and women who sacrifice everyday deserve the best opportunities possible. Cooking 4 Courage is a fun, family oriented, and honoring way to assist in providing those opportunities that our heroes may not otherwise be afforded.  Our win last year will always be the pinnacle of our journey”.

Experienced BBQ teams will be happy to see the Calcutta at the event. BBQ teams will auction their brisket off to the crowd to see who will win in the brisket category. If your brisket team wins, 1st through 3rd place the buyer receives 60%, the winner gets 20% and the balance remains with the TUFF Foundation.

Kids aged 5-14 are eligible to participate in their own TUFF Kids Cook-off and will compete Saturday in a competition with pork loin chops supplied by BBQ Commanders and sponsored by Constable Chris Jones of Precinct 5.Parents must register their child in advance and pay the $25 registration fee. Competition begins at 9:30am with turn in at 1:00pm and limited to 30 participants. Each contestant will receive 1 portable grill and 1 bag of charcoal. Contestants should bring the remainder of tools they may need.

The event also includes a Veteran’s Day Ceremony with a fly-over and a free lunch hosted by VFW 4709 from noon until 6pm on Saturday. The ceremony is a spectacular salute to all that have served, are continuing to serve, and our local first responders.

Don’t miss the continuous live music starting Friday evening, the cornhole competition, the Saturday Car Show with Montgomery County Jeeps, South County Jeeps, The Vette Club, the vendors, silent auction and live auction with BBQ accessories, guns, and items to enjoy your outdoor space.

Sponsors for C4C include Woodforest Bank, Conroe CVB, America’s ER, L Squared Engineering, Solid Rock Ranch, Grand Central Park, Cunningham Living, McDonald Electric, Montgomery Comprehensive Dental Center, and Collision Fix Unlimited.

Admission is $5 for the public with children 12 and under free. All veterans, military, and first responders are free to attend and enjoy the celebration!

Schedule:
Friday, Nov. 8
5:00pm Gates Open
5:30pm Cassidy Hurst
7:30pm Cornhole
8:00pm Trent Cowie Band

Saturday, Nov. 9
9:30am TUFF Kids Cook-Off
10:00am Gates Open
11:00am Car Clubs Ready
12 noon Veterans Day Ceremony
12 noon Free Veterans Day Dinner
2:00pm Ryann Elise
4:00pm Texas Joe Bailey
6:00pm Live Auction
7:30pm The Fantasticks

“This is a great way to show our appreciation to those that keep us safe to live our lives both locally and nationally. We hope the public joins us to applaud and support our active military, vets that have served our country, and our first responders. It is a very heartfelt event,” said Board Member Jason Rinn.

Sign up for the Cooking2Courage, Kids Tuff Cook-Off, or get involved as a vendor by visiting the website
www.TuffFoundation.org or email Cooking4Courage@gmail.com Sponsorships are still available by connecting with Jason Rinn at (281) 782-7955. Follow the TUFF on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TUFFFoundation.

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