For more than 40 years, the Steak Fry in the Country has been a cherished Sauk Valley tradition. Thanks to your generosity and commitment, this event has helped raise critical funds for agricultural education, scholarships, and FFA program grants—making a lasting impact on local students and their futures. We are deeply grateful for the role you have played in that success.
As you may be aware, another organization has recently launched a similar event. After careful consideration, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce has made the decision not to host the Steak Fry in the Country in 2026. This decision was not made lightly. We do not wish to compete with another event of the same nature, nor do we want to see support divided when the ultimate beneficiaries are our local students. For that reason, we believe having the SVACC Agribusiness Committee not hold the Steak Fry is the most responsible path forward at this time.
The SVACC Agribusiness Committee will be using 2026 as a year to regroup, reflect, and explore how the group can thoughtfully reapproach this effort in the future. While the SVACC’s Steak Fry in the Country will not be held this year, please know that our commitment to supporting local students remains unwavering. Agribusiness scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year are already underway along with the SVACC’s other scholarship areas. We were proud to distribute grants to 17 FFA chapters and organizations over the past few months and are exploring ways to continue support in the future.
We wish the other event success. When it comes to supporting our youth, there is room for shared purpose, and we hope the community will continue to support opportunities that benefit students across the Sauk Valley.
Thank you again for your decades of support, trust, and partnership. We look forward to staying connected and sharing future opportunities to support the next generation.
With appreciation,
Sauk Valley Area Chamber Board of Directors