Steaks, bets and community connection at the 38th Annual Goshen Smoker

GOSHEN, Ind. (WNDU) - The Goshen Professional Firefighters Union Local 1443 held its 38th annual Smoker fundraiser, an event that connects Goshen firefighters with hundreds of community residents.

A night of food and games

The fundraiser takes place at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds. Attendees cook their own steak, eat, drink and take part in raffles and blackjack.

Jeff Crume, a Goshen resident who has attended the event for nearly a decade, said the event offers a variety of activities.

“Oh, it’s fabulous,” Crume said. “Cook for your own steak, lots of eats, whatever you want to drink, and plus a lot of prizes.”

This year, the union also partnered with The Refinery Coffee Company, creating their own blend to sell.

Funds meet community needs

Sgt. Daniel Kurtz, president of Local 1443, said they normally gross around $30,000 and profit about $10,000 which goes toward helping community members.

“It’s not for ourselves, but it’s to allow our members to then find needs in the community and then we have a bank to find those needs and meet those needs as they arise,” Kurtz said.

In the past, they have used funds to buy backpacks for Goshen Community Schools students and walkers for the older folks.

But these events don’t just raise money, they build true connection.

“When we’re out in the community after events like this, they recognize us and they’ll know where we’re from and they say, ‘Hi,’ and they know when we show up,” Kurtz said. “If we do show up on an emergency, they know who they’re seeing, so it makes a pretty big difference.”

Volunteers, attendees return year after year

Goshen native Orville Myers has attended the event for more than 20 years. He never misses a chance to support the local fire department.

“What these guys do is outstanding. They go into a burning building when we’re coming out and I’ve become friends with a lot of them, Chiefs on down. They mean a lot to me,” Myers said.

Myers hopes the younger community also continues to support Goshen fire through events like these.

Gregg Lanzen, a volunteer firefighter and chaplain, has volunteered at the Smoker handing out steak for more than 20 years.

“Every year it’s a lot of fun,” Lanzen said. “I meet so many people that I haven’t seen maybe in a year, or sometimes even more than that. Other firefighters that I worked with in the past, other friends, community members, leaders of our community.”

Goshen Fire Dept. Sgt. Jeremy Krezel said the large turnout year after year reflects a dedicated community willing to step up for them.

“It’s just real eye-opening how much people want to support us and support everybody else,” Krezel said.

Stay up to date on local news with WNDU on-air and online. Be sure to download the 16 News Now App and follow our YouTube page as we continue to bring you the latest news coverage.