Scholarship Winners
- Ben McAtee – Bob Stinocher $1000 Scholarship
- Katy Yeomans – Larry Meyers $1000 Scholarship
- Reegan Helle – Beef Days $500 Scholarship
- Jeannie Jedlicka – Beef Days $500 Scholarship
Beef Days Grand Marshals – The Ruzicka Family
The Ruzicka Family has been chosen as this year’s Solon Beef Days Grand Marshals of the 2019 Celebration.
Ruzicka’s Meat Processing & Catering is a 2nd generation family-owned and-operated Solon business that has proudly been serving the Solon area and Eastern Iowa for 38 years. Ronnie Ruzicka opened the doors in 1981 in the same location at 301 N. Dubuque Street that stands today.
With Ronnie’s passing in 1984, the Ruzicka family of Ronnie’s wife Barb and children, Julie, Jeff, Jodie and Jolene, vowed to keep the busy going and today it is still very much a family affair. In 1988 a building fire damaged much of the upper story of the building leaving the lower level mostly intact.
Today, Ruzicka’s and Solon Beef Days are like bread and butter, you can’t have one without the other. It’s been long-standing tradition to serve Ruzicka’s famous pork burgers, Ronnie’s own special recipe, as well as supply and prepare the steak dinner meal that is the mainstay of Solon Beef Days, a big job indeed. With the help of the Ruzicka family business, Solon Beef Days has grown into the premier family event for eastern Iowa.
The Solon Beef Days Committee would like to thank the Ruzicka Family for their partnership and dedication!
Beef Days Celebrity Grand Marshal
Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek
Congratulations and Thank You Lonny for your service to Johnson County!
Lonny grew up in La Porte City, Iowa and graduated from high school in 1982. He attended and graduated from Kirkwood Community College, and then Mt. Mercy College.
Lonny’s wife Julie is an attorney and they have been married for 28 years. Their son Samuel and his fiancé Jaelyn Daggs-Olson live in Cedar Rapids. Lonny’s mother, Shirley lives here in Solon.
The Solon Beef Days Committee wishes to recognize the commitment of excellence that Lonny brings to the Solon Beef Days event and appreciates all his department does to help ensure a safe and fun time is had by all.
When asked what his favorite Beef Days tradition is, his reply: Of course, it is the Hay Bale Toss!
Beef Days Cornerstone Grand Marshals
Carolyn Trump and Tom & Kathy Trump
They have been chosen as this year’s Solon Beef Days Cornerstone Grand Marshals of the 2019 Celebration. This special recognition is awarded for their involvement in community activities that have made a positive impact on the Solon community and surrounding area.
Family Background / Highlights: Dean, Carolyn, and Tom moved to Solon when they purchased the Solon Hardware Store in 1975. Tom & Kathy Trump were married in 2010. They have a son Dalton. All but Dalton reside in Solon.
Business / Career Highlights: Tom and Carolyn now run the store since the passing of Dean in 1996. Tom also works part time for Johnson County Ambulance Service & is an intermittent disaster responder for The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and periodically serves as Logistics Section Chief for the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency. Kathy is the Echocardiogram Coordinator for the University of Iowa Hospitals Pediatric Clinic & works part time for HyVee.
Beef Days Traditions: Tom & Kathy help the fire department with their shift in the beer tent & help set up & run the kids waterball fight.
Many years ago, there was a movement to make Beef Days into more of a family friendly atmosphere. Tom became a member of the Beef Days Committee and ran a kids big wheel race for a couple of years where the winners got to keep the big wheels. That was later handed off to the Solon Cub Scout parents to run. He also organized and ran the first kids pedal tractor pull for several years before handing it off to the FFA to run. Tom also helped line up & run the parade in what was the open field where Apple Valley Condos are located now.
Solon Committees / Organization Involvements: Carolyn was a member of the Solon Senior Housing Group that brought economical senior housing units to Solon.
Tom has served on the Solon Fire Department for 39 years, currently serving as EMS Service Director and President of the Firefighter’s Association.
Tom & Kathy operate Solon Community Enterprises which is the organization that purchases and maintains the Christmas decorations put up around the city.
Tom is a past member & Chairman of the city Parks & Recreation Committee
Service Director and President of the Firefighter’s Association.
Tom & Kathy operate Solon Community Enterprises which is the organization that purchases and maintains the Christmas decorations put up around the city.
Tom is a past member & Chairman of the city Parks & Recreation Committee