Morningside Connect

On January 10, the Iowa BBQ Society Board of Directors and members inducted eight people into their new BBQ Hall of Fame.

Among the eight inductees was Morningside College 1980 graduate Anne Rehnstrom.

The Iowa BBQ Society Hall of Fame is intended to honor individuals, teams, businesses, local charities, and celebrities who have distinguished themselves in recognizing barbeque as “American Cuisine.” Those people also have helped celebrate and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, sport, and art form.

The first inducted members received a State of Iowa Plaque inscribed with their name, a Hall of Fame Certificate, and a lifetime membership in the Iowa BBQ Society.

The first inducted members were also the original founding members of the society.

“I was one of the original eight that founded the Iowa BBQ Society back in 1998; until 2014 I was the society’s secretary,” said Rehnstrom.

Throughout her years at the society, she has coordinated many barbeque competitions, written press releases, maintained the membership, searched for sponsors and judges, and completed many other various tasks.

Before helping start the Iowa BBQ Society, Rehnstrom was involved with the National Pork Board. She joined them in 1986.

“I helped with a contest that the Pork Board sponsored for a few years and then became the coordinator of one of the largest contests in the Midwest,” said Rehnstrom.

For her, this award meant a lot. She has dedicated over 16 years to getting the organization started and then keeping it running.