Press Release
Iowa Bacon Board Offers Reward Leading to Capture of Bacon Bandit
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Des Moines Police Department
Sometime between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22 a person broke into a Des Moines home on the 900 block of 59th Street and reportedly stole jewelry, electronics and bacon. In response to the crime, Brooks Reynolds, Chairman of the Iowa Bacon Board, is offering four VIP Passes to the 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or people responsible for the robbery.
“Words cannot describe the shock and fear this community has suffered over the burglary. The theft of electronics and jewelry is terrible. But, taking someone’s bacon? That’s just over the line. The criminals responsible must be caught, convicted and pay the price for this heinous crime,” Reynolds said. “It is my hope and expectation that this reward will help convince those who may be holding onto important information to come forward.”
To ease the victim’s pain and suffering, the Iowa Bacon Board and Eden Farms will provide them with 15 lbs of Eden Farms Bacon and two tickets to the 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival.
President of Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival Will Appear on Steve 
Harvey Show
On the heels of organizing the largest bacon festival in the history of the world, Brooks Reynolds, Chair of the Iowa Bacon Board and President of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival (BRBF) will make a television appearance on the Steve Harvey Show to promote bacon to the masses, everyone, everywhere, all of them. In Central Iowa, tune in to KCWI on Thursday, April 4 at 2 p.m. and watch Mr. Reynolds interact with Steve Harvey as he showcases a variety of bacon-inspired dishes and beverages created by Des Moines’ local restaurants.
“I feel truly blessed to be invited on to the Steve Harvey Show to discuss one of Iowa’s most celebrated exports,” explains Reynolds. A true bacon connoisseur and food lover, Reynolds reached out to a number of BRBF participating companies and restaurants to prepare for the show. Viewers will see Steve Harvey enjoying bacon procured from Tender Belly and Des Moines Bacon Company, dishes prepared by La Mie Bakery, Caché Bake Shoppe, Machine Shed and Chocolaterie Stam along with beverage recipes from Templeton Rye, Hawkeye Bacon Vodka and Hair of the Dawg Bacon-Flavored Bloody Mary Mix.
For those watching outside Central Iowa go to http://steveharveytv.com/watch/ to find where the program will air in your area. To learn more about the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival go to www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com or “like” Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival on Facebook.
History of Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival
What started as a groups’ passion for “all things bacon” has evolved into the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival and Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour. In 2001, a group of guys began celebrating bacon during an annual weekend retreat in Spirit Lake, IA. Six years later, they pursued a deeper understanding of their favorite meat by earning “All About Bacon” diplomas from Living History Farms. On March 1st, 2008, officially organized under the Iowa Bacon Board and led by Brooks Reynolds, they went on to found the world’s premier bacon festival: a festival with the mission of improving the enjoyment of all things bacon by providing education, recognition, advocacy and research on behalf of the masses, everyone, everywhere, all of them. They are serious. Seriously, dudes. Seriously.
About Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival
Recognized as the “Mecca of all bacon festivals”, the world’s premier bacon festival takes place annually in Des Moines, IA. Organized and promoted by the Iowa Bacon Board, the festival offers participants: extensive bacon sampling, bacon lectures, bacon-inspired dishes, bacon competitions, an annual bacon queen, bacon awards, live entertainment and bacon camaraderie.
The 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival took place on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The festival accommodated over 9,500 bacon lovers and sold out in a record breaking 3 minutes and 22 seconds.
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Governor Branstad To Host Pig Pardoning Party
(We Are Serious. Seriously, Dudes. Seriously.)
Pig Pardoning Ceremony to be held at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, February 8, at the Governor’s Mansion on Terrace Hill. Preceding the ceremony, a diplomatic reception will be held between delegates of the Iowa Bacon Board and Reykjavik, Iceland Bacon Board.
On Friday, February 8, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad along with delegates from both the Iowa Bacon Board and Reykjavik, Iceland Bacon Board will meet at the Governor’s mansion on Terrace Hill for an inaugural Pig Pardoning. The purpose of the occasion is to honor Iowa’s tastiest export and celebrate its powers in bridging cultural divides and deepening international friendships.
Chair of the Reykjavik Bacon Board, Bogi Guðmundsson, commented on the venue. “We are truly honored to be invited to Terrace Hill for this special occasion. The Governor’s mansion is a cultural crossroads where delegates from the bacon-loving countries of China, Japan, Soviet Union, and Germany have been guests.” Chair of the Iowa Bacon Board, Brooks Reynolds, added, “We are honored, as well, to host our Icelandic friends while we all pay homage to pigs for bringing us together.”
The pig to be pardoned is named Bonnie. She is a 100% pure heirloom Berkshire sow. Eden Farms, a coalition of independent family farmers in Iowa, has offered her up for the occasion. Following the festival on Saturday, Bonnie will return home. Nick Jones of Eden Farms explained, “Bonnie is a good little pig, and we’ll be happy to care for her as she feasts on grains and lives a long and fruitful life on the farm.”
The inaugural Pig Pardoning ceremony will be followed on Saturday by the SOLD OUT 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival– Viking Bacon Quest “A Journey to the Land of Fire…and Ice…and Bacon!” The world’s premiere bacon festival, held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. There attendees will revel in a festive international celebration where bacon enthusiasts can truly explore and express their love for bacon in a fun, imaginative and supportive atmosphere. When asked why a group of 12 Icelanders would voyage all the way to Iowa in the middle of February, Guðmundsson responded, “Bacon fellowship has no borders”.
“OHHHH, BACON! OHHHH, BEIKON!”
6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival Sold Out
December 12, 2012 (Des Moines, IA) – All general admission tickets and tables to the 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival – Viking Bacon Quest “A Journey to the Land of Fire…and Ice…and Bacon!” are officially sold out. 8,000 tickets were acquired in just over 3 minutes in the online only sale through Des Moines-based ticketing company Tikly. Tickets were purchased from coast to coast as well as abroad. Currently, a buyer from as far as the West Indies has been identified.
The Iowa Bacon Board and Tikly were overjoyed at the response and mindful of those bacon lovers who were unable to purchase tickets. When asked why limit the availability of tickets, Brooks Reynolds, Iowa Bacon Board Chair, responded “Over the past 6 years the Iowa Bacon Board has doubled the event in size every year, and we’re committed to growing the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival at a manageable pace into the future.”
While general admission tickets and tables are sold out, a small number bacon-inspired dinner packages that include one general admission ticket to the festival may still be available at blueribbonbaconfestival.com.
For those who were unable to secure tickets to the sixth annual festival, there are a variety of events taking place leading up to the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. In addition, tickets will be distributed to winners of a variety of bacon-related competitions taking place beginning in January and ending on February 5, 2013. For details about Bacon Week and the upcoming bacon competitions, please “like” Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival via Facebook, subscribe to the email list on the web at www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com, and/or follow @BRBaconFest on Twitter.
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Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival
Recognized as the “Mecca of all bacon festivals”, the much talked about Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival takes place annually in Des Moines, IA. Organized and promoted by the Iowa Bacon Board, the festival offers participants: extensive bacon sampling, bacon lectures, bacon-inspired dishes, bacon competitions, an annual bacon queen, bacon awards, live entertainment and bacon camaraderie.
The 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Historically, the festival has doubled in size every year and sold out quickly. With plans to accommodate over 8,000 bacon lovers the event will again take place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The Varied Industries Building with the new addition of the Elwell Family Food Center will allow for a larger variety of food vendors, bacon purveyors, entertainment, bacon education lectures and beverage stations.
Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival Ticket Sales Date Revealed In Short Film
“Tickets will be sold exclusively online via Tikly through a link on www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com”
November 26, 2012 (Des Moines, IA) – Award winning film maker Nick Strickland directs a group of Iowans in “Blue Ribbon Bacon Vikings,” an intense bacon drama that focuses on the fictional confrontation between invading Viking warriors and present day Iowans. Upon the conclusion of the film, which is featured at www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com, the date and time of ticket sales for the 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is revealed.
Actor and Iowa Bacon Board Member Mark Pederson spoke about his acting debut, “Yeah, filming was pretty cool, except the weather was cold and rainy.” Mark continued, “I have to admit, I was disappointed not to have my own wardrobe trailer, or an umbrella for that matter.” When asked about the quality of Mark’s performance, a smile came across Strickland’s face as he responded, “Mark is an amazing person”. Strickland paused, and then reiterated, “An amazing person.”
The 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival – Viking Bacon Quest “A Journey to the Land of Fire…and Ice…and Bacon!” will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Historically, the festival has doubled in size every year and sold out quickly. With plans to accommodate 8,000 bacon lovers the event will again take place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The Varied Industries Building with the new addition of the Elwell Family Food Center will allow for a larger variety of food vendors, bacon purveyors, entertainment, bacon education lectures and beverage stations. MOST IMPORTANTLY there will be more room to accommodate Icelandic bacon refugees who will be fleeing their Viking homeland seeking temporary asylum in fear of the impending European bacon crisis.
The one-day event will feature over 10,000 lbs of bacon from around the nation, bacon-inspired dishes from local and traveling restaurants, bacon bloody mary’s courtesy of Hair of the Dawg, Hawkeye Bacon Vodka and Pearl Vodka, live music, bacon educational lectures, and samples of Beggin’ Strips® for those with bacon-loving dogs at home.
Due to 2012’s quick sellout, the maximum general admission ticket purchase will be four (4) per order. For ticket package information visit www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com or “like” Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival on Facebook.
Icelandic Vikings Set Sail in Search of Bacon Asylum in Iowa
“Icelanders Will Find Refuge at the 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival on February 9, 2013 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds”
October 10, 2012 (Des Moines, IA) – On February 9, 2013, Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, the World’s premier bacon festival, will provide temporary asylum for Icelandic bacon refugees fleeing their homeland in fear of the impending European bacon crisis. Reykjavik resident and bacon enthusiast, Àrni Georggson explained, “I had the opportunity to speak with members of the Iowa Bacon Board in house of Höfði at the International Bacon Summit in August. They spoke of a dreamland where pigs outnumber people 8 to 1 and the beer flows like the river of Ölfusá.” In a voice of determination, Georggson continued, “When the crisis hits and prices break 2,500 Krona per kilo of bacon, I’ll be enjoying myself in Iowa or ‘Valhalla’ as Icelanders have come to know it.”
As the European Union nations and Iceland begin to adjust to increased regulation and higher feed prices, production of pork is expected to fall by as much as 5 percent next year, predicts Erin Borror of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Brooks Reynolds, cofounder of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, believes the shortage will not only increase international demand for U.S. pork exports, but also for bacon tourism. Reynolds explained, “As concern over Europe’s expected pork shortage has grown, the Iowa Bacon Board has received a sizable increase in inquiries from all over the world. As a result, we have decided to double the number of tickets available to the event.” Reynolds continued with fervor, “But, we are especially concerned about accommodating our Icelandic bacon refugees. When the Iowa Bacon Board attended the International Bacon Summit in Reykjavik earlier this year, we pledged to see them through tough bacon times. Little did we know, a crisis would fall upon their great country sooner rather than later.”
The 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Ticket sales will be announced in November. Historically, the festival has doubled in size every year and sold out quickly. With plans to accommodate 8,000 bacon lovers the event will again take place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The Varied Industries Building with the new addition of the Elwell Family Food Center will allow for a larger variety of food vendors, bacon purveyors, entertainment, bacon education lectures and beverage stations.
When asked what’s in store for the 2013 event, Reynolds hinted, “The Iowa Bacon Board wants to do everything we can to make the Icelanders feel at home. That is everything short of smuggling in a couple baleen whales and putting them into Gray’s Lake.”
For information on how bacon purveyors, restaurants and businesses can participate in the 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival go to www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com or email blueribbonbaconfestival@gmail.com.
Contact Information
Brooks Reynolds, Chair & President
Iowa Bacon Board
Email: brooks@brbfest.com
Phone: 515.259.0224
www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com
Marshall Porter, C.A.A.B.G., Chief Bacon Officer
Iowa Bacon Board
Email: marshall@brbfest.com
Phone: 515.259.0224
www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com
