October 27, 2017

DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations continuously looks for ways to engage with its community. As a manufacturer headquartered in Pineville,Louisiana, we take great pride in not only our product but also our home. So when our local United Way began looking for teams to compete in its annual Wild Cook-Off, DIS-TRAN quickly rallied our employees to see what we could cook up.

This was United Way’s seventeenth Wild Cook-Off. Local businesses and organizations formed teams, each cooking signature dishes for judges and the community to taste. Categories included barbecue, ribs, cajun,and wild game. Teams gave members of the community free tastes, but tips were encouraged. Teams give all money raised to United Way. The fundraising event allows United Way to recirculate thousands of dollars back into the Central Louisiana community.

“It’s a great event and serves as an opportunity for DIS-TRAN to engage with fellow businesses and our neighbors. We make and ship electrical substations across the globe. Participating in the cook-off helps make our presence here known. Plus, we are doing our part to help our community grow and that's important to us,” says Lindsey Launius, DIS-TRAN’s Marketing Manager.

Judges made rounds to every booth and picked winners in each food category. Judges also selected winners for best presentation and most spirited. Wanting to share with our community exactly what DIS-TRAN does,DIS-TRAN brought a little of its Project Support Service Center to its booth and incorporated some electrical components into its table setting.

“Our table was actually a giant wire spool. We used some factory-built substation lifting shackles for napkin holders. Even our centerpiece is wire used when constructing a substation,” explains Launius.

DIS-TRAN cooked up food to compete in each category. Each individual dish is a home recipe of a DIS-TRAN team member. DIS-TRAN’s Project Assistant, Sissy Rice, made her signature etouffee. “I wanted to make some thing really special. I also made some corn salad for a side. It added a nice pop of color to the plate. I’m really proud of us,” says Sissy. The DIS-TRAN team came back to its office with a third-place trophy for its ribs and is already brainstorming ideas for next year’s competition.