A day of giving back

Eric Tjarks, left, speaks prior to the auction to benefit the Shriners Thursday night at FALS.

Golfing, pork chops and a charity auction were among the highlights Thursday to open the Prairie Dirt Classic weekend festivities in Fairbury.

The Shriners Children’s Golf Classic went well at the Indian Creek Country Club, according to organizer Eric Tjarks.

“We had to add that morning group to allow more participation,” he explained.

The outing benefits the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Chicago and one of the patients was on hand.

“He has kind of become the icon of this golf outing and charitable event,” noted Tjarks.

Plenty of race fans and teams came out to support the cause and help raise awareness of the Shriners Hospital which helps kids with special pediatric needs such as scoliosis, burns, club feet and cleft lip.

“Matt Curl, Dan Kukuck, Sarah Kukuck – the whole team that puts this golf event on is just remarkable,” added Tjarks.

People were lined up as early as 2 p.m. outside of the Fairbury Speedway office for the evening Shriners auction.

“The first year was $3,000 and now, we’ll raise over $40,000 probably.”

Tjarks appreciates the sense of community surrounding the PDC to make it a special place.

Bank of Pontiac served its traditional pork chop dinner prior to the auction. The dinner evolved after starting as a small event in previous years.

“We would serve a few hundred before and now, we’ll probably serve 1,000 or 1,200 tonight,” said Mark Donovan, Bank of Pontiac president. “We have everybody from a director to a teller here helping out.”

Everyone was fighting through the heat but having a good time on Thursday. Donovan was hoping for a good turnout at the nearby Shriners auction.

“Matt Curl does a tremendous thing here with the community and we can’t thank him enough for letting us partner with him.”

The bank especially enjoys being a part of the day which helps to raise money for a good cause.

“It just keeps growing – it’s unbelievable,” notes Donovan.

The band Dirty Grass Soul provided a free concert by the north end beer stand following the dinner and auction.

A crew from Bank of Pontiac cooks hot dogs and pork chops before the Shriners auction Thursday.

Mike Norris and Eric Tjarks shown before Thursday's Shriners auction at Fairbury Speedway.