Mower County Dairy Princess Lauren Servick dishes up ice cream and puts it on ice during the Ag Appreciation Cookoff Tuesday night at the Mower County Fairgrounds. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Though the heat was beastly on Tuesday, it didn’t put a damper on the Austin Chamber of Commerce 25th Annual Ag Appreciation cookout.

Mower County Fair Board director Neal Anderson, right, brings out more chops as board member Jerry Risius, left, serves up beans during the Ag Appreciation Cookout Tuesday night at the Mower County Fairgrounds. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

According to Sandy Forstner, executive director of the Chamber, 1,150 tickets were sold for the event, just 50 fewer than last year. Many of this year’s guests grabbed their meals and went straight home to cool off.

“Yeah, it was warm,” Forstner said.

The fundraiser supports local ag activities and groups, such as the Corn Growers Association, 4-H Club, Pork Association, Dairy Association, Farm Bureau’s Day on the Farm and the Chamber’s own Day on the Farm for third- through sixth- graders coming this September.

“I think everybody had a good time,” Forstner said. “Despite the weather, it was a good time.”