Image courtesy of: Illinois High School Association

Reigning Pork and Pigskin champions the A-Train, Community’s porkchop sandwich concessions trailer, advance to the competition’s “Savory 16” round.

Community’s A-Train concessions advanced to the second round of the 2nd annual Pork and Pigskin competition, a partnership between the IHSA and the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) to determine the State’s “best pork chop sandwich,” on Friday, Sept. 16.  

Fans from four regions, each named for a different pig breed, voted online to narrow the field of high schools vying for the title from 59 to the “Savory 16.” 

Community’s pork chop sandwich concession won the inaugural competition in 2021, receiving a prize package sponsored by the IPPA, which included the “Golden Spatula,” a State championship banner, and a $500 reimbursement for pork-related costs for the 2022 football season.

This season, guest judges will conduct a taste test to determine which school moves on from the Hampshire region: Community, Olympia, Greenville or North Mac High School, remaining eligible for the State title and IPPA prize package. 

In-person judging concludes on Oct. 21, with the State Champion announced during the IHSA Playoff Pairing Preview Show on Oct. 22. 

“We are pleased to be able to partner with the IHSA on this competition again,” Illinois Pork Producers Board President Thomas Titus said in a press release, “and recognize the volunteers in our communities who work the concession stands.”

Staffed by Community alumni volunteers, the A-Train has donated the proceeds of its pork sandwich sales to the school since 2008.

The trailer, named in honor of the late Adam Denzer, a Community alum and former Unit 5 bus dispatcher, was donated to the school by Denzer’s widow after the 43-year-old was killed in a farming accident.