AgeSmart Blog
As American as a Hot Dog Eating Contest
Celebrating all the ways we are connected and stay connected to each other
by Marjorie Moore | June 25, 2026
On the 4th of July, you’ll find me tied to a TV to watch the biggest sporting event of the year… Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog-Eating Championship. It’s a tradition. And one I share with millions of people around the country who can’t get their outdoor barbeque started before Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo take home their Mustard Belts.
The pageantry that honestly belongs nowhere near a hot dog eating contest, the scandals that get replayed over and over, and look of joy mixed with regret on the champion’s face at the end of the battle spur conversations over my family’s own feast long through the day. It’s something we share that brings us closer together.
July is a big month for America. This year we celebrate America 250, but we’ll be celebrating the creation of Medicare and Medicaid this month too… and importantly for all of us, the 61st anniversary of the first authorization of the Older Americans Act on July 14.
What I love about the older Americans Act, or OAA for short, is that baked into it are hundreds of ways to keep people connected to each other.
At Northeastern Randolph County Senior Services in Sparta, they’re serving up good food every weekday with a side of brain teasing puzzles to keep community members sharp.
At Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, they’re helping older family members who have stepped in to raise their family’s children get legal guardianship and make the process as smooth as possible for everyone.
At Counselors’ Associates and Programs and Services for Older Persons, they’re providing counseling services for caregivers that keep families together longer.
At South Central Transit, they’re providing rides for community members, so no one misses a thing.
The moments of connection that our partners throughout the aging network create in their communities represents the true spirit of our country. We show up, we care for one another, and of course, we feed the people around us.
So on July 4, while I’m watching Joey, Miki and the rest of the competitors battle it out with my family, I’m proud to be a part of a network of Americans that gives rides to neighbors, speaks up for people living in long-term care, and sets up cornhole tournaments after lunch. That’s what America 250 is really about to me, celebrating all the ways we are connected and stay connected to each other.
The pageantry that honestly belongs nowhere near a hot dog eating contest, the scandals that get replayed over and over, and look of joy mixed with regret on the champion’s face at the end of the battle spur conversations over my family’s own feast long through the day. It’s something we share that brings us closer together.
July is a big month for America. This year we celebrate America 250, but we’ll be celebrating the creation of Medicare and Medicaid this month too… and importantly for all of us, the 61st anniversary of the first authorization of the Older Americans Act on July 14.
What I love about the older Americans Act, or OAA for short, is that baked into it are hundreds of ways to keep people connected to each other.
At Northeastern Randolph County Senior Services in Sparta, they’re serving up good food every weekday with a side of brain teasing puzzles to keep community members sharp.
At Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, they’re helping older family members who have stepped in to raise their family’s children get legal guardianship and make the process as smooth as possible for everyone.
At Counselors’ Associates and Programs and Services for Older Persons, they’re providing counseling services for caregivers that keep families together longer.
At South Central Transit, they’re providing rides for community members, so no one misses a thing.
The moments of connection that our partners throughout the aging network create in their communities represents the true spirit of our country. We show up, we care for one another, and of course, we feed the people around us.
So on July 4, while I’m watching Joey, Miki and the rest of the competitors battle it out with my family, I’m proud to be a part of a network of Americans that gives rides to neighbors, speaks up for people living in long-term care, and sets up cornhole tournaments after lunch. That’s what America 250 is really about to me, celebrating all the ways we are connected and stay connected to each other.