ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
The weekend of May 16 and 17 in the area will be full of events, including graduations in Hooker, Okla., Tyrone, Okla., and Turpin, Okla., as well as Liberal’s Yellow Brick Road Car Show.
Seward County United Way is letting locals get in on the weekend’s fun with an event of its own, Taco Libre, which will feature a competition to see who can make the best tacos as well as many other fun activities throughout the day.
“The morning of the 16th, we will start off with a 5K and a 1-mile walk/run,” SCUW Director Patricia Fierro said. “That will start around where we’re going to be having our event, which is off of North Lincoln. We’ll be gathering there to kick off the race and the walk.”
Registration for that activity will start at 7:30 a.m., with the run/walk starting at 9 a.m.
“We’ve got great sponsors for that,” Fierro said. “There’s opportunities to purchase shirts for the 5K and the 1-mile.”
Taco Libre itself starts at 4 p.m. and will run until 11 p.m., with the taco cookoff going from 5 to 7 p.m. Fierro said there will be many other things going on during that time as well.
“We have wonderful sponsors that helped us put on this event,” she said. “I will be adding things on to our Facebook page on our event we created. We’ll be adding pictures. We’ll also add the schedule, but as of right now, we have different people still being added on it for performance. The event starts at 4.”
Likewise, Weissel Boxing, one of United Way’s agencies, will have a presentation, and Fierro said she is still looking for taco masters for the cookoff.
“I have the flyer on our Facebook page for people to reach out to us so we can send them the rules and what their setup is going to be, what they need to bring,” she said. “Those who are participating will get an opportunity if they wish to stay and sell afterwards. That would be completely on them. They can stay and sell their tacos after the cookoff at 7.”
Fierro said this gives cooks a chance to fundraise for themselves or SCUW’s agencies.
“Maybe we could potentially get a new taco truck out of this if they have really yummy tacos,” she said.
The judges choice winner of the cookoff will get $500 courtesy of Argoth Excavation, and the people’s choice winner will get $100.
“We are giving an incentive to those who are trying our tacos,” Fierro said. “When you buy your bracelet, you will be given a card. Once the card is full, once you’ve gone to all of your vendors, the card is placed into a box, and we will do a drawing for some patio furniture sponsored by Mead Lumber. It’s going to be nice to be able to try some yummy tacos and potentially win a prize.”
With graduations and the car show happening the same weekend, Fierro said Taco Libre adds much into an already fun weekend.
““We are starting off the early morning with a wonderful event, the 5K and the 1-mile, which will pump some folks up,” she said. “We have the car show following at the park that morning until 3 o’clock. Since their event ends at 3 and ours starts at 4, we’re hoping to get that crowd to come over and enjoy what we have to offer as well and maybe extend their stay for another night and enjoy everything Liberal has to offer. It’s a summer kickoff. I think this a great way for the kids to enjoy their first Saturday out of school.”
Fierro said she is anticipating a great day for Taco Libre.
“We’re praying for great weather, a nice, warm sunny day,” she said. “We will make the best of it. It’s all for all for a great cause, so I’m pretty sure things will go in our favor.”
To register for the taco and salsa competitions, visit the Seward County United Way Facebook page. Fierro said there is no fee to compete in the competitions, but registration is required to give organizers forms and placements to allow to make sure the event has a smooth transition and is well structured.
With no fee to register, contestants could get a great return with the possibility of winning $500, and Fierro said there is also the joy of bragging rights of having the best tacos in Liberal.
For more information, call or text Fierro at 620-621-1358, or message the Seward County United Way Facebook page on Messenger.
“Not only do I see it, but also the other board members,” she said. “If I don’t get to it, somebody else will. I’m really busy with a lot of things, so it will take me a minute to get back to you. We will get you the information you are requesting, and we hope to see everyone there.”
Fierro is inviting everyone to come with empty bellies to try some amazing tacos.
“We have so much talent here in Liberal,” she said. “We have so many great talented cooks, and my goal is to get a lot of these food trucks that make tacos coming out and competing for the best tacos in town. We’ve got some of those moms who make really yummy food. They might get motivated to opening one themselves.”
Fierro said she is extremely excited for what she called a wonderful event.
“I think it’s going to bring a lot of people together,” she said. “It’s a great community event with the fact we’re able to raise not only funds, but also collecting food items for our food pantry. I think this is going to be a phenomenal event.”
Fierro said likewise, the United Way board is excited about Taco Libre.
“We’re going to make the best of it, and we’re hoping everybody enjoys themselves and continue to look forward to more Taco Libres each year,” she said.
