Virtual Beer, Brats, & Bourbon for BackPack: A New Format for a Classic Event

NORTH MANKATO, MN – Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) hosted the 4th annual Beer, Brats, and Bourbon for BackPack presented by United Prairie Bank this past week with an interesting twist. Accounting for current social distancing guidelines and limitations, FOCP moved their event to a 100% virtual format, allowing guests to join in the festivities from home. 

In the traditional in-person format, the popular fundraiser hosts local breweries, bourbon tastings, and live music. This year, participants were able to engage with representatives from Summit Brewing Co., Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Mankato Brewery and Schell’s Beer in a virtual Q&A while tasting samples from each brewery. Those streaming also heard from Wall Street Journal-bestselling author, bourbon curator and taster, Fred Minnick, in a live stream bourbon tasting. The musical portion of the night was kicked off by local band Bee Balm Fields, followed by a performance from Dave Pirner and Ryan Smith of Grammy Award winning Soul Asylum.

Prior to the event, local participants received hand-delivered party packages with all the beer, bourbon and treats they would sample throughout the night. During the event, participants were also invited to bid in a virtual silent auction and donate to fund FOCP’s BackPack Food Program and Power Pack program.

With social distancing guidelines and the current pandemic, the community, including many local businesses, came through to support FOCP and all the kiddos enrolled in their programs, making the event a huge success.  All proceeds directly benefit the BackPack Food Program and Power Pack program which discreetly provides food-insecure students with packs of child-friendly meals and snacks to take home for weekends and school breaks. Enrollment currently exceeds 1,000 students at 29 area schools.

​With current uncertainty around this school year, the funds will go directly towards ensuring that area youth are provided with adequate food, regardless of whether they are learning from home or in person. Although our children are currently faced with many unknowns, the BackPack Food Program is making sure that having basic nutrition is not one of them.