Texas team warms a community with Martin Marietta Stew

It took 30 pounds of beef, 15 pounds of potatoes, 8 pounds of onions and 15 hours to prepare.

On a cold October night, a Martin Marietta team from Sulphur Springs, Texas, kept warm while cooking 20 gallons of beef stew. An entry into the 50th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest, the concoction ultimately helped feed a community of hungry stew lovers.

Sponsored by the company, the team and its stew provided a great opportunity to get the Martin Marietta brand in front of the local community, said Sales Representative Jay Johnson. Johnson said the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce event featured more than 200 stew entries and was attended by thousands from across the region.

“This was our first year doing this and we had a lot of fun,” he said. “There was a strong turnout and it was great for us to get out where the public can see us.”

Johnson credited his wife, Rosemary Johnson, along with Ready Mix Cell Manager Kale Tifft, and Sales Representatives Brian Robbins, Ricky Burchfield, Charlie Butler and J.W. Williams for their culinary efforts. Mechanic Larry Johnson created the A-frame for the cast iron pot as well as the Martin Marietta fire ring.

The team’s stew didn’t place, but Rosemary Johnson said she and the others weren’t disappointed.

“The important thing is that we showed up,” she said. “We had a really nice time, our site looked great and we took part in an event that is a great part of our history in this county.”