50 FELLAS FOOD FEST: Raising money for local educators while tasting delectable dishes

   This was not Brad Eppler’s first time out.

   “This is the seventh or eighth year that I have done this, and it brings in a lot of money for Granbury ISD. Our engineering department has benefitted greatly from some of the grants the GEF offers,” said Eppler, Granbury High School’s head baseball coach. 

   Eppler, along with dozens of other handy cooks, converged on the Granbury Reunion Grounds’ Courts Cleveland Showbarn Saturday for the 50 Fellas Food Fest.

The event is an annual pilgrimage of foodies and chefs — sampling cuisine prepared by the cooks while raising money for the Granbury Education Foundation. 

“Each year, the GEF is funding teachers and grade-level groups with new and innovative ways to help students learn,” said Jeff Meador, director of GISD communications. 

50 Fellas featured 50 teams with two men each that would prepare an appetizer, entrée, or dessert of their choosing in one-bite samples. 

Proceeds from the event benefit the GEF, which will use the money for innovative teaching grants and the annual academic recognition banquet. 

Coming into the event, Granbury Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brian Bondy was a bit nervous. 

“This will be the first time I am participating in the event. I am a little nervous, but it sounds like it will be a lot of fun,” Bondy said. “Our main goal for participating is to help the education foundation.”

Bondy and his neighbor Chuck Shaw served an entree called white corn chicken chili. His nervousness gone, Bondy was all smiles as people came to his table to try the duo’s food.  

For Lauren Brown, it is all about supporting the local teachers and schools. 

“We have a lot of friends that are educators, and we love the cause,” said Brown.

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