9th Annual CorkyCrush Raises Nearly $1,000 For Des Moines Food Bank

Story by Janet Grella
Photos by Gene Achziger

CorkyCellars has announced that their ninth annual CorkyCrush raised nearly $1,000 to help stamp out hunger in Des Moines.

The team that brought in the most pledged money was “Heritage Hash” (Karen Anderson and Eddy Duggar) – they raised $280!!!!!

Fourteen teams competed this year, including:

• Fine Whines
• Heritage Hash
• Grapes Toe Ya
• Mr. & Mrs. Smoothie Smashers
• Chardonnay Divas
• Grapecrush Grapplers
• Happy Feet
• Masquerading Merlots
• Edwina’s Crushers
• Suckers! (learn to say no)
• Grapeful Dead
• Grape Nuts
• Grapezilla
• And the winning team name “Got Wine?”

Diane at CorkyCellars told The Waterland blog:

“The teams managed to get about 91 pounds of juice out of the 266 pounds of grapes that we tossed in the barrels. There was a real close race for the highest weight – the Grapeful Dead guys got 8 pounds 2 1/4 ounces and the Got Wine? girls got 8 pounds 2 1/2 ounces. Even our youngest crushers, 3 and 6 years old got 3 pounds 13 1/4 ounces so you can tell that everyone was in there giving it their all.”

Ric and Diane, owners of Corky’s want to recognize their event helpers:

• Jason Hardt
• Steve Swank and grandson Noah
• Bob Birgenheier & Chris Jacobson (Barrel Boys with Ric the Barrel King)
• Michelle Reynolds (Pictures & Barrels)
• Russ Lent (Timer)
• Candice Hardt (Weigher/Recorder)
• Susan Goegebuer (Sound System)
• Ashely & Shawna Jacobson (Trophy Girls)