(WNY News Now) – GERRY – Imagine the challenge of preparing a grocery list that feeds thousands. This is the reality for head chef Kyle Van Akin as he gears up to serve over 3,000 dinners at the Gerry Fire Department’s 79th annual PRCA rodeo from July 31 to August 3.

Leading Kyle’s extensive grocery list are 4,500 pounds of beef, 1,800 pounds of potatoes, 80 gallons of corn, and 120 pounds of cottage cheese. Add to this 64 gallons of tomato sauce and 250 pounds of sugar for his “secret recipe” barbecue sauce. The list continues with vegetables for tossed salads, ice cream, dinner rolls, serving trays, napkins, coffee cups, and all necessary items to make the event successful. Concession stand supplies include hot dogs, hamburgers, rolls, French fries, fried dough, and Pepsi soft drinks.

Most items are ordered through Hans Biekert at Maplevale Farms, with key suppliers including Pepsi, Upstate Milk, Wells/Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and Bimbo Bakeries. Maplevale also provides two refrigerated trailers for food and drink storage.

Kyle, who works full-time with Heil and Andrews Construction, has taken his vacation to fulfill his demanding role as head chef for the third consecutive year. His day begins at 5:00 AM, starting the fires in the pits and loading 800-1,200 pounds of beef. He spends the next eight hours maintaining the perfect cooking temperature by adjusting the coals and preparing 80 quarts of barbecue sauce. By mid-afternoon, volunteers arrive to slice the beef and prepare other dinner items.

Kyle’s wife, Britta, supervises the kitchen, recruiting volunteers to prepare tossed salads and potatoes. Another team joins in the late afternoon for final preparations, serving dinners from 5:00 to 8:00 PM each day.

This year, fans will miss the familiar face of Janice Rounds, the long-time dining hall hostess who passed away from cancer after last summer’s rodeo. Her husband, Paul Rounds, and daughter, Ashley Backer, will honor her memory by filling her role.

Despite rising food prices, the dinner price remains the same as last year, offering a generous meal of barbecue beef with sauce, kettle-browned potatoes with gravy, corn, tossed salad, cottage cheese, roll, ice cream, and a beverage, with no tax or tip included.

Beyond the dinners, the rodeo features professional action with over 200 cowboys and cowgirls competing for $50,000 in prize money, a lighted midway with 20+ vendors, and a free kids’ rodeo on Saturday afternoon. Over 100 volunteers make this event possible, with all proceeds benefiting the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department.

For more information, visit www.gerryrodeo.org or call (716) 985-4847 or 1-888-985-4847. Pre-sale tickets are available at reduced rates through July 28 by phone, online, and at Country Fair stores in Gerry and Fredonia.