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August 12, 2012

Rockin' Wing Fest takes flight for charities

By Keith Gushard Meadville Tribune

MEADVILLE — A little rain Saturday didn’t foul Joe Yeager’s appetite or attitude toward one of his favorite snack foods — chicken wings.

“The weather may not be good, but the atmosphere is great,” said Yeager of Conneaut Lake in between bites of wings at the inaugural Rockin’ Wing Fest, hosted by the Meadville Area Federal Credit Union at the Meadville Area Recreation Complex

“I’ve had hot, garlic and mild (flavors of wings),” said Yeager. “My vote (for the best) is the garlic.”

The palate of Yeager’s son, Jacob, 16, wasn’t quite the same side as his father’s. He’d sampled both hot and sweet flavors. And his vote?

“The hot — they’re pretty good,” the younger Yeager said.

Some of the wings may have been hot, but the weather wasn’t.

Cooler temperatures in the upper 60s and drizzle had kept the cumulative crowd total at only about 500 by mid-afternoon, said Heather Clancy Young, the credit union’s chief executive officer. The event ran from noon until 7 p.m.

Planning for the daylong food, fun and music event — which benefits a dozen area charities — began last October.

“We decided to do it because Meadville hasn’t had a wing cook-off for several years,” Young said. “We’re hoping as time goes on momentum builds and this can be a stop on the road to Buffalo.”

Buffalo, N.Y., is home to the National Wing Fest held each September.

“This is part of our Caring About Our Community campaign that we began four years ago,” she said.

That campaign annually helps raise money for 12 charities that area active in Crawford County: Big Brothers and Sisters of Crawford County, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children, Center for Family Services, The Arc of Crawford County, Crawford County K-12 Education Alliance, Keystone Blind Association, Lions Club, Meadville Medical Center Foundation — Breast Cancer Awareness, Shriners’ Hospital andSpecial Olympics.

The 12 charities “are truly assets to our community,” said Young.

Those attending paid a $5 admission fee and then would purchase wing vouchers at $2 for three wings (one wing voucher) and all other food vouchers were $1 a piece for other food and beverages.

In addition to the food, there was live music, various contests including Ms. Rockin’ Chic and Baby Chic, a craft show, a car cruise-in and motorcycle show, and a corn hole bean bag toss tournament.

A final tally won’t be known until a few days, but the event is hoping to raise around $5,000 to $7,000, Young said.



Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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