New BBQ ticket partner and projects for 2017

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College will offer more convenient online ticketing through MyNorth Tickets for the 62nd annual NMC Barbecue May 21.

Barbecue Board President Lindsey Rogers said, “The NMC BBQ Board feels this is another way make it easy for our community members to support our community’s college. MyNorth Tickets is the go-to place for on-line ticket sales in our region and we feel it will be a great partner for one of the longest-running and most popular events in the area.”

The NMC BBQ Board also approved six projects to share in more than $38,000 of NMC BBQ funds.

College employees submit project proposals for program and equipment needs. A subcommittee reviews the proposals and makes recommendations to the Barbecue Board, a group of NMC employees and community volunteers. This year’s projects include:

• Engineering Club NexGen 3D printer- $2,100
• GLWSI water quality monitoring sonde upgrade- $3,695
• NMC Scholarship Open sponsorship- $6,000
• Milliken Auditorium stage curtains- $13,800
• WNMC news gathering equipment- $3,000
• NMC Foundation scholarship endowment funding- $10,000

The late Gerald W. Oleson and his wife Frances, founders of Oleson’s Food Stores in Traverse City, started the annual fund raiser picnic in 1956. Oleson’s Food Stores continues to donate all the food. Several thousand people attend every year, raising more than $1.8 million for college programs and equipment over the years.

In addition to the traditional menu of buffalo steakettes or hot dog, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and beverage and ice cream served from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on May 21 , free live entertainment is provided throughout the day. Classroom displays and program exhibits offer the public a chance to see what's going on at NMC. Children’s games and activities will also be provided. The Barbecue will once again strive toward zero-waste, with composting and recycling services available.

Tickets for the event are $6 in advance and $8 on Barbecue Day and are available online now at nmc.edu/bbq and mynorthtickets.com/events/nmc-bbq. Pre-sale tickets will also be available at all Oleson’s Food Stores, NMC, and many financial institutions.

Release date: march 10, 2017

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019