Ector County ISD BBQ team first in line as state competition approaches
ODESSA, Texas — On Friday, United Supermarkets and Market Street presented a brand-new, custom-built smoker to culinary arts students with Ector County Independent School District’s Career and Technical Education program.
The ECISD Culinary Arts BBQ team will be the first group of students in the region to use the new smoker as their state competition approaches. However, while these students will be the first in line, the smoker is intended to be shared with culinary teams across the Permian Basin. Built by Arnis Robbins, pitmaster of Texas Monthly Top 10 barbeque joint Evie Mae’s BBQ based in Wolfforth, Texas, the smoker is valued around $20,000.
“For a long time, we have loaned our own smokers to culinary students across the region to help them with competitions and practice,” said John Jameson, regional vice president for The United Family. “Now, with this new smoker, students across the area will have an opportunity to use a top-of-the-line BBQ pit made by one of the best pitmasters in Texas. We can’t wait to see what they create! We just hope they’ll share some.”
In addition to the smoker, United Supermarkets and Market Street donated a gift card of $1,000 to the BBQ team so they can purchase meat and other supplies as they prepare for their state competition. The Midland ISD culinary program will also receive a $1,000 gift card for their program. Arnis Robbins, who was in attendance for the presentation, also gave culinary students with ECISD a brief workshop on some of his now-famous BBQ techniques.
“Ector County ISD is thrilled to be the first culinary arts program in the Permian Basin to use this new custom-built smoker,” said Ryan Merritt, executive director for career & technical education for ECISD. “It is stunning, and we are deeply grateful to The United Family and to Arnis Robbins for their support. Career & Technical Education is vital to the future of our region, and when industry leaders join forces with education leaders it creates limitless opportunities for students.”
Media Contacts:
Nancy Sharp Joey Marcades
Corporate Engagement Director Communications Manager
O: 806.791.7463 O: 806.791.8196
C: 806.786.1363 C: 806.281.8078
nsharp@unitedtexas.com jmarcades@unitedtexas.com
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About The United Family®
In its 107th year of operation, United Supermarkets, LLC – d.b.a. The United Family® – is a Texas-based grocery chain with stores in 54 communities in Texas and New Mexico. A self-distributing company with headquarters and distribution centers in Lubbock, The United Family currently operates 96 stores under five unique banners: United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos, Albertsons Market and United Express, along with ancillary operations R.C. Taylor Distributing, USM Manufacturing, United Food and Beverage Services and Llano Logistics. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons Companies, Inc For more information, please visit www.theunitedfamily.com.
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