A Family Tradition!
Manderfield BBQ is Friday
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HOUGHTON -- A tradition spanning decades is once again ready to serve hundreds of Copper Country residents Friday. The Annual Matt and Pete Manderfield Memorial Barbecue starts at noon Friday at Houghton’s Dee Stadium. Hungry event-goers can look forward to feasting on barbecued half-chickens, coleslaw, baked beans, rolls, cookies and beverages.
Tradition and family are important to the Manderfield's, who run the event along with the Houghton-Hancock Lions Club. Lions Coordinator Ron Mauno said there are still tickets left, but he hopes to serve 550 meals Friday.
"Formally we print 550 tickets and distribute those to members a month before the barbecue to sell," he said. "We're in pretty good shape."
Mauno said the profit from the barbecue goes to a fund spread out to various charities in the area. They include: Habitat for Humanity, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Salvation Army, Omega House, Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter among others. Scholarships for Houghton and Hancock high school seniors are offered as well.
"Pretty much all the money from the barbecue. We try to keep it all going local here," Mauno said.
Chief Griller Adam Manderfield is the grandson of Matt and nephew of Pete Manderfield. He said the barbecue honors his late family members and is a staple in the community. "My grandpa, Matt, was really the founder of Manderfield Chicken. He was an old chicken farmer back in his day," he said. "After he passed away my uncle Pete took over the tradition of Manderfield Chicken; grilling it for Houghton-Hancock Lions and we obviously love to do it for family functions."
Adam and his cousin Nick Manderfield now run the chicken duties after Pete passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the concrete pits at Dee hold around 225 half-chickens.
"It takes approximately two hours, maybe two and a half hours to do a round of chicken," he said.
Tickets are going fast and there are only a few left, Mauno said. For ticket info and reservations, contact Ron Mauno of the Houghton-Hancock Lions Club at 906-370-1676.