TJ's Pizza Eating Contest for Telemiracle returns to Melfort

TJ's Pizza in Melfort is reviving its Pizza Eating Contest fundraiser for Telemiracle on Jan. 27 after a seven-year break, with the event set for 7 p.m. at the Melfort Legion Branch and proceeds designated for Telemiracle.

TJ's Pizza in Melfort is bringing back its Pizza Eating Contest as a fundraiser for Telemiracle after a seven-year pause. The contest was held annually from 2011 through 2019 and stopped before the COVID period. Co-owner Lloyd Muntain said the event's return reflects a measure of normalcy returning to community activities. The contest has a local history of drawing participants and raising funds for Telemiracle. Event details: - Date and time: Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Melfort Legion Branch. - Purpose: proceeds from the event are raised for Telemiracle. - History: TJ's Pizza hosted the contest from 2011 to 2019 and is now resuming the fundraiser after a seven-year hiatus. - Rules and format: contestants try to eat an extra-large pizza in 10 minutes or less; TJ's supplies the pizza and prizes. - Past highlights: the 2019 contest raised more than $14,000 for Telemiracle 43, and Garth Turner finished an extra-large cheese pizza in five minutes and 55 seconds that year. - Organization: the Kinsmen and Kinettes will serve as judges, Larry Falk returns as timekeeper, and JBN Promotions is arranging prizes; top prizes include TJ's Pizza gift cards. Summary: The event restores a local fundraising tradition and links to the wider Telemiracle activities taking place this season, including Telemiracle 50 at Prairieland Park from Feb. 28 to March 1. The immediate next step is the contest on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Melfort Legion Branch.