November 26, 2025 • 29 mins
A city street, 27 roaring fryers, and a mountain of sides turned a gray morning into a bright, communal feast. We fired up the sixth annual 21 Turkey Salute with 122 birds, a volunteer army, and partners who transformed a church kitchen into a production line. What began during a season of distance has grown into a tradition that feeds bodies, lifts spirits, and re-centers our team around service.
We walk you through the real work behind the warmth: safe deep-fry prep, thawing and drying protocols, gallons of oil and propane planning, and a simple SOP that keeps chaos at bay. You’ll hear how families and youth clubs took the lead, why pies became the unofficial currency of joy, and how our vendors and friends donated sides from stuffing to gravy. The result wasn’t just full containers; it was a shared sense of purpose that carried straight into Monday.
That purpose shapes our business, too. We talk candidly about making roofing more affordable with financing, clear options, and prices that match buyer reality. Our salaried sales model reduces pressure and builds trust, so reps show up to diagnose problems and protect homes. We also dive into hiring for character, training for skill, and how great people often reveal the roles you needed all along. Leadership isn’t loud by default—trust banks, consistency, and the occasional necessary edge keep our culture between the guardrails when weather, deadlines, and stress press in.
If you’re looking for a playbook to build team culture through service, spark community engagement, and align your business around real care, this one’s packed with practical ideas and honest stories. Subscribe, share with someone who loves community work, and leave a review telling us your favorite give-back tradition—what should we add next year?
Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/
Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram
https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction
https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/
Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now!
https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ty Backer (00:03):
And we are live.
Welcome back, everybody, toBehind the Toolbelt episode 309.
We are now at the 21 TurkeySalute, the sixth annual, and
I'm here with my great friendDavid Bruno, aka Rufus the
Turkey.
Glad to be doing this.
David Bruno (00:18):
This is always a great event.
I love it.
And I don't think you can askfor a better day.
I mean, I got the best day ofthe week for this for sure.
Ty Backer (00:24):
Yeah, man, that's definitely for sure.
I think we are setting a recordas far as the temperature goes.
Uh since 1920, I think today'sthe warmest day in November.
No, I think we're out.
Sorry.
I think we're out.
Yep.
Thank you.
Yeah, we were handing out uhhoodies and beanies.
I think we we ran out.
(00:45):
We've been here since 5:30-ishthis morning.
The city actually locked thestreet down for us at 5 a.m.
When I got here, there wasalready some barriers up, and
then around 6:37 a.m.
they came back and and actuallyparked city official vehicles
here to to barricade us so wewere safe.
unknown (01:02):
Yeah.
Ty Backer (01:03):
And then they came back around lunchtime and and
got some lunch.
So it was pretty cool.
David Bruno (01:06):
I'll tell you, man, it's it's great to see uh from
like to start this day one, andI got to come out here with you
guys and see this and take it,take it in and participate with
you a little bit and do whateverI could.
But I mean, to see theevolution of this thing.
There we go.
Better, all right.
Yeah, to see the evolution ofthis thing and just to see the
way everybody's coming aroundand the way it grows.
(01:28):
You're adding turkeys everyyear.
Yeah, adding turkeys.
We're talking about that.
You started out how many?
30?
Ty Backer (01:35):
30.
We're we're doing 122 today.
Oh yeah, 122.
So that's about approximately,I think it was 2,000 pounds.
Yeah, about two, roughly 2,000pounds of turkey, 1,000 pounds
of propane, and shoot, I forgethow many gallons of oil.
I could probably do the mathreal quick.
(01:56):
But we're we were doing 28 28pots.
27 was the the world record.
Now that's just for braggingrights.
It seemed like after the firstyear we did it, they they never
followed up with us on that.
So each year we kind of just doone more than we did the year
before.
Gotcha.
So we're up to 27simultaneously defrying the
(02:17):
turkeys.
David Bruno (02:17):
You know, I'll tell you, when you first were
started doing this in the fire,you had the fire company out
here with all the extinguishersand all that, I did not know,
and still up until last week, Ididn't know what could happen if
you put the turkey in thereuntil I saw a little video where
somebody actually just droppedlike a frozen and the whole
thing boiled over, exploded inflames.
I'm like, I didn't even knowsomething like that could happen
(02:39):
from one of these deep fryers.
Ty Backer (02:40):
I had no clue.
Yeah, and unfortunately, that'sjust inexperience.
You got to thaw the turkeysout.
So we we get them a couple daysin advance, we get them fresh,
so then we're not battling theice, you know, too bad.
Sometimes we'll get them theirflash frozen, but they're not
rock solid.
Yeah.
And then the night before we wewe tear them all apart, we'll
take the wrappers off, we'llpull the the heart and the neck
(03:03):
out of it.
Uh the Valencia ballroomactually donates their kitchen
to us because Jen and I and Vicand a few of us used to actually
do this in our kitchen at thehouse.
Like up to 80 turkeys one year.
I think we ended up cleaningand drying out and preparing
them for today.
David Bruno (03:23):
And how long is it?
How long is that taking?
Ty Backer (03:25):
We were in and out of there, what, three, four hours
last night?
I thought we were gonna bethere till midnight, but a lot
of people actually showed up andvolunteered their time.
A lot, a lot of people from ourteam, um and other people, um,
you know, people, people that wemet actually through
volunteering.
Uh, Matt, big shout out toMatt, big shout out to I can't
think of Lori Lori's husband'sname from New York Builders
(03:47):
Association.
He showed, I think it wasRandy.
I think his name's Land Randy.
Um, anyhow, his last name'sLori.
Because Lori Lori, yep, her herhusband.
Shoot, I should know his name.
Damn it.
I'm so sorry.
Um, but it's been it's been along few few days here.
Jan and I actually did most ofall the purchasing of all this
(04:10):
stuff ourselves.
We usually delegate that.
Um, but we really wanted to getthings dialed in, figure out
how many propane tanks we had,how many pots, how many gallons
of oil we needed um to completeour SOP.
Because the girls a coupleyears ago started, you know, a
system operational procedure onon how this needs to get done.
Because I'm hoping this happenslong after we're not doing
(04:31):
this.
Somebody you know from ourcompany is is still facilitating
this, you know, potentiallyafter I Jana decide to retire.
David Bruno (04:39):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I would certainly thinkso.
And I mean, just look ateverybody having a look,
everybody having a great time,just the engagement of
everybody.
I mean, you have the whole teamall hands on deck doing this,
and I think that's great.
Everybody's looking likethey're having a legitimately
having a fun time doing this.
Yeah.
And even I have fun doing this,dressing up as the turkey.
I mean, I I I was a little uhhesitant about it at first when
you guys talked me into it, butI've been having a good time
(05:00):
with it.
And just a couple people comeover.
Hey, can we get a picture withyou with the kids and all that?
It puts a smile on my face,too.
And of course, everybody seemsto enjoy it.
Ty Backer (05:08):
This puts yeah, puts people a little bit, uh just
gives people some good news.
Thank you.
And honestly, that's that's howthis whole thing got started.
It wasn't our targetnecessarily wasn't the less
fortunate, it was because of theturmoil we felt, I don't, the
country, our town, our city.
There was just a lot going onduring COVID, and we really just
(05:29):
wanted to do something very uhpositive due to all the
negativity and the divide andall the crap that was going on.
It was kind of like we didn'twe didn't care, we don't, we
still don't care, you know, whatwhat position you are in life
or where you're at in your life.
We're like this is open toeverybody business owners, the
less fortunate, uh, religion,nothing, none of that, none of
(05:51):
them.
Just come down, participate,whether you're volunteering.
We've got probably close to, Ithink at one point, like close
to 300 volunteers here.
Um, I was told about an hourago we had already served over
800 people.
Um, we're not even halfwaythrough.
Fortunately, we we we haveenough food this year, and if
anything, I I kind of hope wehave some food left over because
(06:12):
typically we run out of foodand have to turn people away.
David Bruno (06:15):
Yeah, see, that'd be great.
And I mean, I'm looking at theportion sizes too that you folks
are putting out.
I mean, there's some, yeah,you're filled.
I mean, you're filling thosecontainers.
Yeah.
So you don't have to, nobody'suh getting it.
Ty Backer (06:25):
Yeah, we're not playing around.
I mean, the youth is out here.
There's a lot, I can't believethe the younger generation has
really stepped up to to helpvolunteer with this thing.
We got boys' clubs, we haveyouth clubs, we have um our our
team members' children are outhere on the on the front lines
here serving food.
And uh big shout out, I want togive a big shout out to Mark
Jones over at JCB events.
(06:46):
He it's a food truck service.
They're actually down in thekitchen of the church making all
the sides and donated all thesides, the the the stuffing, the
gravy, the mashed potatoes, thecorn, all that stuff.
Uh they really stepped up himand his entire his wife, his
kill, his his kids, his family.
They stepped up, they're downthere now making stuff.
(07:06):
Um, our team and theirfamilies, it just it's become a
big foundation, huge foundationof the making and the
galvanizing of what TC Backerstands for.
This is a part of our corevalues, our culture.
It helps solidify that.
That way, you know, it's likeit's kind of you can feel it
start dying down, and then allof a sudden the 21 turkey
(07:28):
starts, you know, and we startgearing up for it, and
everybody's spirits start tolift back up, and then and then
Monday morning when we get backto work, like everybody takes
this servant attitude to everyjob site, yeah.
You know, and it lasts formonths and like three quarters
of the year, and then and thenwe're we're kicking off, you
(07:49):
know, swing for recovery, ourfood drives to kind of just keep
that that twinge, that light,that sparkle in everybody's
eyes.
David Bruno (07:56):
Kind of spread that stuff out a little bit every
few months, and there you go.
Ty Backer (07:58):
You keep everybody just yes in the field from one
to the next to the look forwardto it.
Yeah, it's almost the way thatwe re-recruit our team, you know
what I mean?
It just you know, to to keepthat buy-in.
Like this is why we're doingit, it's much more than a
paycheck.
It's this is why we do this, isbecause not only do we serve
we're serve five people that weprovide the community, whether
(08:24):
it's you know, we're running apromotion right now, free
gutters with with any roofinstallation up to 250 feet, 18
months, same as cash, like allthese things, like we're really
and we've lowered all of ourprices to kind of meet that, you
know, uh buyer's behavior oflike, you know, because let's
face it, you know what I mean?
Roof doesn't have to break yourbank.
(08:45):
So we have options.
We have so we can we'reproviding choices for people,
like you know, through thedifferent systems of roofing
packages that we offer to tofinancing, to credit cards, to
you know, less expensiveproducts, that you'll still get
the same life expectancy.
It just doesn't have that thatthat high big box store sticker
(09:07):
on the side of the package,which makes it a little bit more
palatable for people too.
David Bruno (09:11):
When they see that, that's it's it's a much softer
approach, yeah, than justbeating people over the head
with that with all those uh andsee, and this is the difference
too.
Ty Backer (09:19):
Our salespeople are actually get paid a salary.
You know what I mean?
They have health insurance,they're not 1099 subcontractors
only working for commission, sothey're not showing up
desperate, right?
You know, they're not showingup like I gotta get this deal to
serve my family.
No, we we actually pay oursales reps a commission.
So when they go into somebody'shouse, they're actually there
(09:41):
to serve them.
We want to figure out what theproblem is, diagnose it, and
make sure it doesn't happenagain.
David Bruno (09:46):
Yeah, yeah, and that's a good job.
I mean, uh and you've evengrown, you continue to grow and
expand the sales team prettysteadily, don't you?
Ty Backer (09:53):
Absolutely, and it and it's grown organically.
It's not I'm not even promotingor running ads for for sales
reps.
David Bruno (09:59):
Yeah, yeah, it where they just That's what I
mean.
People just see what you'redoing, and they're like exactly
hey, I've got some I got somestrengths in these areas, you
know.
You you're looking to youlooking to add on to your to
your team.
Absolutely.
Where can they fit in?
Ty Backer (10:12):
Yes, yeah, sure.
No, and like we've createdjobs.
I mean, we'll run into people,it's not even about like what
they know or or what you knowhow how to do certain things,
it's just it's we're hiringbased off of who they are, yeah,
as human beings, and then wewill train you up if you want to
do sales, you want to be on agutter crew, you want you want
to do estimating, like so versusactually going out there and
(10:34):
looking to recruit these people.
David Bruno (10:36):
It's just if somebody comes across in front
of you that seems to make sense,you'll you almost create
something for them.
Hey, you'll have to be like,hey, if you you know, we got
some good people here we'retalking to.
Maybe make a spot for them thatmay not have necessarily been
available or that you weren'tlooking to fill, but you're
like, hey, yeah, you got to dothat.
Ty Backer (10:54):
And a lot of times they create because they're such
good people, they actuallycreate a position for themselves
that we didn't even know weneeded.
They help fill gaps and findvoids that you know, because
they're they're just good,smart, you know, at what good at
what they do, and you know, atas being a first-generation
roofing contractor, this wasn'tsomething that was handed to me.
(11:16):
Right.
So we've been trying to, youknow, figure out how to build
the parachute, you know, whilealready jumped out of the plane
before we hit the ground, kindof kind of thing.
And and a lot like Vic.
Vic has created a position forhimself.
I mean, Chris Baker.
I mean, the list goes on andon.
And you know, this is the otherthing, too.
We've had other business ownerswho stopped their businesses to
(11:38):
actually come work for us justto be a part of this, like
literally four, five, six, uh atleast a half a dozen people,
Glenn, Jim, the list, Chuck,Vic.
You know, not some of them werein our industry and some of
them weren't in our industry.
David Bruno (11:53):
Right.
See, that that's see, that'sawesome.
That's awesome.
I mean, that's that's where youcan tell you have a great
culture going there, and that'sthe big thing.
A lot of businesses don't havethat.
No, and it's not even, or ifthey do, I mean it's there, but
it's not on the same par as kindof what you've established
here.
Yes, and I see that every timeI come here and I see the way
everybody engages, all the thegenuine fun and good time
everybody's having here.
(12:14):
I don't see anybody that'slike, oh yeah, man, I gotta be
here again, you know, I gotta dothis again for the whole for
the whole afternoon.
Ty Backer (12:21):
I don't see any of that, and that's uh it's and
that is a little surprising to adegree because that's just
yeah, but you know, that's no,everybody's all in, and they're
and they they they love whatyou're doing here today, and
it's because of events likethis, because culture culture
isn't static, you know, it'svery fluid, you know.
Sometimes we get off the tracka little bit and we gotta we
(12:42):
gotta realign it.
And but but having events likethis is what keeps it between
the guide rails, yeah.
Our culture, you know, and weif we because listen, not every
day is easy what we do.
We we work outside and all theelements, okay?
It could be hot, it could becold.
Um, we try to meet deadlines,we can't.
There's a lot of pressure, it'sa high stress, a lot of
(13:03):
pressure, sometimes dangerous,you know.
So it's not it's not theeasiest thing that we do.
Um, but having events like thisthat we carry into the office
Monday morning will bring thisenergy to the office.
Yeah, it makes it a lot easier,you know, to have a why and a
purpose outside of just apaycheck every single day.
And everybody knows that theirrole is important because if
(13:26):
they're doing a good job, whatit is that they do, whether it's
a physician, a whole entiredepartment that they're
overseeing, they know if they'redoing a good job, that the
people either under them orbeside them actually get to
bring a paycheck home.
Yeah, because we're doing agood job.
David Bruno (13:41):
Yeah.
And here's another thing, too.
I know you've got when we'retalking about events and things
like that, you've got the theYork Home Home and Garden show.
Yeah, coming out, and that onethere, too.
It's like when you go to theseshows, you see businesses,
they've got their little table,they've got a table, right?
But as maybe as big as thistable here, and they've got two
people there who are just tryingto squeeze and hammer whoever
they can.
(14:02):
Yeah, and there's there'snothing wrong with that, I
guess, because that's what thoseshows you expect.
That's the point of it.
But you don't expect what youdo in the setup you do, where
you've got you're showingeverything you have, you you've
got all, but you can have againhow many people there?
You've got your whole teamthere, it's it's more of like a
team building thing.
Yeah, you're gonna talk to you.
Ty Backer (14:21):
From from production to administrative to to our
sales team, of course.
Yeah, but there's probably lesssalespeople there than anything
else.
I think it's mostly ourproduction team and their
families that come out justbecause that's where we're at,
that's where we're hanging out.
And like we've become a bigfamily, yeah.
Like if Ty's gonna be there,Jan is gonna be there, and if
Vic's gonna be there, if Baker'sgonna be there, like I'm gonna
(14:41):
be there because that's justwhat they just like our trunk
retreats that we just did thisyear.
We've done them before yearspast, but like something was
different and special about thisyear's trunk or treats.
I'll tell you, the Dotties wasreally good.
I have not been to that.
David Bruno (14:54):
I said, I had no idea what to expect.
Ty Backer (14:57):
That was a big that was a lot bigger than I thought.
Yeah, there was a lot of peoplethere.
Yeah, there was a lot of peoplethere, and our teams come out
because that's where we were,you know, and so that's where it
was like, and we didn't evenreally ask anybody, like, hey,
are you gonna be there or likebeg them to be there, or they
just knew we were gonna bethere, they just showed up like
people came out of the woodworkfrom our team to just be there
(15:18):
because we were there, yeah.
You know, and that's that it'shard, that doesn't happen
overnight.
And if anybody's out there thatowns a business, like, man, how
did I do that?
Well, you gotta stay steadfast,you got to stay consistent, and
and that's probably the biggestthing is uh just stay
consistent to your word, youknow.
When you're indecisive andwishy-washy, and you know,
people don't know what to expectevery day when they come into
(15:40):
work, it's the door gonna belocked, how's the boss?
Is the door closed or is thedoor open?
And don't get me wrong, I amnot a saint and I'm not perfect,
but but it takes building up atrust bank, and every now and
then, you you know, because ofyou making so many deposits into
your trust bank, you can take awithdrawal.
David Bruno (15:57):
Yeah, I'm sure I'm sure most everybody on your team
knows if there's a day here, aday there, or a couple hours
early in the morning or late inthe afternoon when you just
don't seem like you're asapproachable.
I don't think anybody takesthat personally.
They're just like, whoa,something may have happened,
might be might be better toapproach this tomorrow morning
or later in the day.
And that's and that's thething, and but people understand
(16:18):
that, yeah, and that's becauseyou've been as transparent as
you are.
It's no mystery as to, youknow, hey, something must have
really yeah.
Ty Backer (16:26):
Yeah, and that's usually how I think how they
take that too, you know.
And it's like then that's andthat's I guess that's the
dichotomy of leadership becauseyou you also build up what's
called leadership equity.
So if I am pissed and I amraising my voice, there's
something major going on.
Speaker (16:40):
Oh, yeah.
Ty Backer (16:41):
It's not, you know, it doesn't fall on deaf ears,
like they they perk up, theylisten, like, okay, we're
messing up, the boss is pissedat it.
You know, it's it's nodifferent than when your parents
are pissed off at you.
It's like you you get more hurtbecause I let you down.
Yeah, not because I'm scared oryou know, dad's pissed again.
I guess I'm just gonna go to myroom and wait until he's not
pissed anymore.
They listen.
Yeah, they're like, okay, we'rescrewing up, dad's pissed.
(17:02):
Yep.
David Bruno (17:03):
You know, it's the same way.
There's and so that's again,that's a that's a good spot to
be in.
I mean, when when your teamrecognizes that, that's a good
thing.
You know, we have greatleadership.
Ty Backer (17:15):
Listen, we have great leadership.
It takes a village.
I didn't build this by myself,and it didn't happen overnight.
You know our team, you know theamazing people that are on our
team that any given time, if Igot hit by a bus, this thing
would still roll forward.
David Bruno (17:29):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, and that's great.
And I've uh it's been funmeeting everybody here.
You know, I come in here andeverybody jokes with me about,
you know, tipping me upside downand dunking me into the the
deep fire.
It's it's it's great, and I'mglad that uh it's it's cool to
be incorporated in that with uhwith you and the team.
So I I always appreciate cominghere, and uh I know you do.
Ty Backer (17:53):
I know you do.
I'm still waiting for ZachFisher to come work for us.
David Bruno (17:56):
He's like, I'm gonna get you.
Yeah, and he's gonna say it.
Ty Backer (17:58):
We're we're still waiting on him to come work for
us.
David Bruno (18:00):
Yeah, yeah.
Ty Backer (18:02):
No, no comment.
Excuse me?
No way, nope, it's all free.
Yep, good stuff.
Um, let me see if we can't getPastor Joel on here.
Where's he at?
Would Zach Fisher want to comeon?
I know, I know, I know.
(18:25):
How long have we been on?
We're getting rain in an hour.
Oh, alright.
Okay.
Yeah.
I almost feel like there's ayou're good?
Are you good?
Okay.
You know, no, it's good though.
This is uh I was um thismorning, I'll be honest with
(18:47):
you.
I was choked up when I sawAmanda, it was so crazy.
So Vic and I pulled in, and Iwas already choked up.
I was I was 20 minutes, rain in20 minutes.
Okay, so Vic and I I got outreal quick.
We had to move the barriers andget in here.
And here comes Miss Amanda.
Now it's dark, and myheadlights are shining on her.
(19:10):
I it was the picture I postedthis morning.
Okay, that's actually Amanda inthe middle of the street.
She was already here before Igot here.
Oh got here, and I got out andlike I don't know if she sensed
something, but she hugged me andI was crying.
I I'm seriously so overwhelmedwith with joy and gratitude.
(19:30):
I just it blows me away.
One first, first off, to havethe opportunity to be able to do
something like this, to havethe energy, the courage, the
tenacity, and bravery, okay, towhen we first started this.
Like nobody was even out in thestreets at the time when we
when we did this, okay.
Everybody was social distancingand working from home and all
the crazy nonsense that washappening at that time, okay.
(19:54):
But to have the the backing andsupport from actually York
City, and when they showed upthis morning to to move the
vehicles in as barriers here,they were just as excited, okay,
as I was.
But but getting back to how Iwas feeling coming in here, I
was thinking, man, if they ifthey knew who I was when I was a
(20:17):
kid growing up and a teenager,uh, and the hell that I raised,
it's just amazing what istranspired over the years of of
the man that I've become.
I guess and the trust that thecommunity has put in me and in
(20:37):
the company, and it man, I Ican't even, I'm I'm struggling
here to even try to even put itinto words.
Overwhelmed, I guess, of ofgratitude.
And I I think it's gratitude,you know, and and somebody I
heard, I read, listened tosomeplace.
It's like this is how youmeasure success.
Yeah, not not by the size ofyour bank account, because trust
(20:59):
me, I've been broke as a joke,but have served a thousand
plates of food and felt like thewealthiest man in the world
being broke and serving when Ididn't have it to give.
David Bruno (21:11):
Yeah, well, like I said too, and I was sitting over
there and I got talking to someof those folks, even taking a
couple pictures with them orwhatever the case is.
They were all of them weretalking about how appreciative
they are of you for doing thiseach and every year.
Ty Backer (21:23):
Yeah.
David Bruno (21:24):
And and this, yeah, this is uh, I mean, this is
good that you that you want tocontinue doing the absolute not
only continue doing it, but youwant it to grow and evolve and
expand each and every year, anduh just keep seeing it get
bigger and bigger and havingmore people turn out to uh you
know to participate in it, andand yeah, you know, just gonna
(21:44):
be amazing.
Ty Backer (21:44):
It is amazing.
Yeah, you know, and watching mykids grow up, you know, year
over year.
I see my my youngest son overthere.
Yeah, he's elbow deep inwhatever the heck he's doing
over there, and and ourgranddaughter, who you know has
been helping since she sinceshe's been born, you know, go
and get the pies, and you know,with my daughter and uh my wife
(22:06):
Jenna, and and to watch our kidsand grandchildren grow up, not
knowing any other way but toserve, yeah, is is is pretty
cool.
And um, you know, it's it's soimpactful.
It's it this goes way deeperthan what it does for me or what
it has done for me.
But to watch our team grow intoa completely different human
(22:26):
being prior to when theyactually started working here is
is uh the other the otherimpactful thing to to watch our
team who I'm not saying theycame in being selfish, but to
watch them grow into a selfless,uh more selfless individual,
human being, and their familiesare here participating,
(22:48):
screaming, jumping up and downin in uh joy to want to help.
Yeah, and and literallyprobably arguing and arm
wrestling and fighting overwho's gonna do what, you know,
is is what's really cool aboutit.
Like, and like you said,nobody's bitching, like, oh, I
gotta have to do this again.
It's like, no, they're fightingover, like, no, I'm deep frying
a turkey.
No, I'm deep frying a turkey,yeah, or no, I'm cutting the
(23:10):
turkeys, or no, I want to servepies, or I want to hand water
out.
It's pretty cool that peopleare are you know falling over
themselves to to want to comeout here and actually
participate in this and andspeaking of people who who need
to no, I'm just kidding.
There's Chris Marky.
Chris, come why don't you comein here and replace me?
Seriously, come in here andtalk to David for a minute.
(23:33):
I don't come here.
David Bruno (23:34):
But you gotta talk to me.
Ty Backer (23:35):
Yeah, it's he's like, why?
David Bruno (23:37):
Why don't I even talk to Bruno for him?
Yeah, go on.
Ty Backer (23:39):
Get in here and talk to David.
Come here, stud.
Come on, stud.
Well yeah, Marky, who won'tcome in, he will though
eventually.
He had played a big part in inuh mentoring me, and we kind of
mentor each other, I guess, atthis point in time, and and uh
(24:01):
has helped inspire a lot ofthese great ideas and thoughts.
And for someone for me to be asounding board, you know, along
with Big Dickie Talk, Big DickyTalk.
Anyhow, there's my wife.
I'm getting tired.
David Bruno (24:14):
I know you guys always have a lot of good
conversations, and you and youand he spent uh a lot of time
together.
And each time that he's been onthe been on an episode with
you, I've always those were someof the best conversations.
I've been I always hear somegood conversations, and and the
advancer back and forth a littlebit too, that which always
makes it fun.
Ty Backer (24:29):
So uh yes, but it is fun, but all of it's been fun,
it's been a journey.
Oh, yeah, you know, that we'reembracing, we're not bucking the
system and and fighting thejourney that we're on.
We're actually embracing thechallenges, you know, that come
with you know hosting thingslike this or the life in
general, you know, thechallenges that we've accepted
the challenges, and then there'srock.
David Bruno (24:48):
Yeah, we were just talking and his buddies are
here, and I just said over thethis course of the last couple
of years, I mean, heck, I don'teven know how you recognize he's
like big and he's he's got thelong hair.
I'm like, man, I said, look atthat.
Ty Backer (24:59):
He's trying, he's trying to take after you with
the long hair, right?
David Bruno (25:04):
I was gonna say Mr.
Ty Backer (25:05):
Hollywood got the beautiful long hair, the ladies
love it.
David Bruno (25:09):
If you can do those long locks like that, you gotta
do it while you can.
Ty Backer (25:12):
That's right, exactly.
Yeah, just ask Vic.
Do it while you can, buddy, oryou're gonna lose it.
Use it or lose it.
David Bruno (25:19):
Yeah, I'm just waiting.
I'm just waiting.
I think I'm I think if mine'sgonna go, it's gonna start right
up here on the top and startdisappearing.
Ty Backer (25:26):
Nah, you'll be fine.
You got a nice head of hair,buddy.
David Bruno (25:29):
I'm I'm hoping so.
Ty Backer (25:30):
I'm hoping so.
Well, awesome.
I how long have we been runninghere, Vicky?
30 minutes?
Seems a lot longer than let'ssee if we can get somebody in
here.
David Bruno (25:40):
It's like it seems a lot longer than that talking
to this guy.
Ty Backer (25:42):
No, I mean it's just I well, we've been here for a
while.
Yeah, it's been it'd be nice ifZach would get in here.
There's probably a littledelay.
I know he's listening.
Zach, you gonna come on here?
Come on.
How about Lauren?
Corona.
David Bruno (25:58):
There's Lauren, she's like, I'm not looking.
She's like, I'm not looking.
Ty Backer (26:02):
Hey, lady, hey you everyone's avoiding us like the
plague right now.
Hey, hey Peter, come here.
Oh, he will, he will.
I know he will.
Come on in here.
You know David?
Sure.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Jump on introduction.
What am I doing here?
Jump in.
Introduce yourself.
Like right now?
My name is Pete Vasick.
And I am live on what am Idoing?
Oh, it's gonna rain.
Oh, it's gonna rain, okay.
What are we talking about,David?
(26:41):
We're just not gonna tell us,tell us about uh the experience
here this morning.
It was gonna rain, yes it is.
It was it was great.
Yeah, yeah, it was my firsttime.
So I'm a newbie, and I got touh between the turkeys last
night, get up, and my first uhturkey drop.
So yeah, but everything herewas awesome.
David Bruno (27:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
These are always fun.
I'm glad to uh it's cool seeingyou here, and it's uh you know,
I've been able to participatewith these guys for the last
number of years.
And it's always great.
I always enjoy this thing here,and people laugh and carry on
with me wearing this topic everytime.
But I love it.
Every now and then there's acouple people that come by and
say, Hey, good, we get a pictureof you about kids or something.
And that's that that puts asmile on my face because I just
(27:26):
want everybody to have a goodtime.
And walking around like thatmakes people laugh a little bit
while they're just you know orbrightness anybody's day and
kind of a collaboration withwhatever you guys are doing
here, and that's great, youknow.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, I love I love the outfit.
I love the outfit.
I think you're the mascot.
Oh, I know, yeah.
I think you're the mascot.
Uh it's perfect, and you uh youpull it off.
Yeah, yeah.
So it's always fun.
Speaker (27:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, but no, um, it was it's been a great day, the
weather turned out compared toyesterday.
David Bruno (27:56):
The weather compared to where it's gonna be
compared to where it's gonna bethe rest of the week.
Right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
This was this was new day.
God shy.
Yes indeed.
Weather couldn't have beenbetter.
It was so foggy this morning,you would have never thought the
sun was gonna come out.
And it came out.
Yeah, man.
So yeah, I'm I'm glad I got tofinally participate in this
thing.
David Bruno (28:19):
Awesome, and uh it's always good seeing always
good seeing Ty and the familyand everything.
Yeah, he's uh all engaged andhaving a good time with this, so
yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Everybody helped out.
Uh McKenzie's daughter, she dida great job giving the pies
out.
Although she didn't want togive me a pie.
She said I was a pie thief, andI don't really uh but I still
took one, okay?
I mean, she scolded me, but Istill took one.
Which one did you go with?
I'm on the cherry.
The cherry pie.
I mean, I could have gone withthe apple, but I went with the
(28:53):
cherry, yeah.
There was a strawberry creampie, I thought that sounded
pretty good.
I'm surprised you didn't bringthe golf clubs with you here
today, next.
They're not that far away.
They're just they're just downthe street.
But uh, yeah, so it's been it'sbeen a good day.
I'm glad you're here.
Awesome, yeah.
David Bruno (29:10):
Always fun.
Always glad that I always gotit.
Oh gotta grab Baker real quick.
Gotta grab Baker.
Let me wrap it up.
Rain coming.
All right.
Thank you, Victor.
Appreciate it.
Yes, thanks.
Thanks for including me.
Thanks to hide, everybody.
And we are live.
Welcome back, everybody, toBehind the Toolbelt episode 309.
We are now at the 21 TurkeySalute, the sixth annual, and
I'm here with my great friendDavid Bruno, aka Rufus the
Turkey.
Glad to be doing this.
David Bruno (00:18):
This is always a great event.
I love it.
And I don't think you can askfor a better day.
I mean, I got the best day ofthe week for this for sure.
Ty Backer (00:24):
Yeah, man, that's definitely for sure.
I think we are setting a recordas far as the temperature goes.
Uh since 1920, I think today'sthe warmest day in November.
No, I think we're out.
Sorry.
I think we're out.
Yep.
Thank you.
Yeah, we were handing out uhhoodies and beanies.
I think we we ran out.
(00:45):
We've been here since 5:30-ishthis morning.
The city actually locked thestreet down for us at 5 a.m.
When I got here, there wasalready some barriers up, and
then around 6:37 a.m.
they came back and and actuallyparked city official vehicles
here to to barricade us so wewere safe.
unknown (01:02):
Yeah.
Ty Backer (01:03):
And then they came back around lunchtime and and
got some lunch.
So it was pretty cool.
David Bruno (01:06):
I'll tell you, man, it's it's great to see uh from
like to start this day one, andI got to come out here with you
guys and see this and take it,take it in and participate with
you a little bit and do whateverI could.
But I mean, to see theevolution of this thing.
There we go.
Better, all right.
Yeah, to see the evolution ofthis thing and just to see the
way everybody's coming aroundand the way it grows.
(01:28):
You're adding turkeys everyyear.
Yeah, adding turkeys.
We're talking about that.
You started out how many?
30?
Ty Backer (01:35):
30.
We're we're doing 122 today.
Oh yeah, 122.
So that's about approximately,I think it was 2,000 pounds.
Yeah, about two, roughly 2,000pounds of turkey, 1,000 pounds
of propane, and shoot, I forgethow many gallons of oil.
I could probably do the mathreal quick.
(01:56):
But we're we were doing 28 28pots.
27 was the the world record.
Now that's just for braggingrights.
It seemed like after the firstyear we did it, they they never
followed up with us on that.
So each year we kind of just doone more than we did the year
before.
Gotcha.
So we're up to 27simultaneously defrying the
(02:17):
turkeys.
David Bruno (02:17):
You know, I'll tell you, when you first were
started doing this in the fire,you had the fire company out
here with all the extinguishersand all that, I did not know,
and still up until last week, Ididn't know what could happen if
you put the turkey in thereuntil I saw a little video where
somebody actually just droppedlike a frozen and the whole
thing boiled over, exploded inflames.
I'm like, I didn't even knowsomething like that could happen
(02:39):
from one of these deep fryers.
Ty Backer (02:40):
I had no clue.
Yeah, and unfortunately, that'sjust inexperience.
You got to thaw the turkeysout.
So we we get them a couple daysin advance, we get them fresh,
so then we're not battling theice, you know, too bad.
Sometimes we'll get them theirflash frozen, but they're not
rock solid.
Yeah.
And then the night before we wewe tear them all apart, we'll
take the wrappers off, we'llpull the the heart and the neck
(03:03):
out of it.
Uh the Valencia ballroomactually donates their kitchen
to us because Jen and I and Vicand a few of us used to actually
do this in our kitchen at thehouse.
Like up to 80 turkeys one year.
I think we ended up cleaningand drying out and preparing
them for today.
David Bruno (03:23):
And how long is it?
How long is that taking?
Ty Backer (03:25):
We were in and out of there, what, three, four hours
last night?
I thought we were gonna bethere till midnight, but a lot
of people actually showed up andvolunteered their time.
A lot, a lot of people from ourteam, um and other people, um,
you know, people, people that wemet actually through
volunteering.
Uh, Matt, big shout out toMatt, big shout out to I can't
think of Lori Lori's husband'sname from New York Builders
(03:47):
Association.
He showed, I think it wasRandy.
I think his name's Land Randy.
Um, anyhow, his last name'sLori.
Because Lori Lori, yep, her herhusband.
Shoot, I should know his name.
Damn it.
I'm so sorry.
Um, but it's been it's been along few few days here.
Jan and I actually did most ofall the purchasing of all this
(04:10):
stuff ourselves.
We usually delegate that.
Um, but we really wanted to getthings dialed in, figure out
how many propane tanks we had,how many pots, how many gallons
of oil we needed um to completeour SOP.
Because the girls a coupleyears ago started, you know, a
system operational procedure onon how this needs to get done.
Because I'm hoping this happenslong after we're not doing
(04:31):
this.
Somebody you know from ourcompany is is still facilitating
this, you know, potentiallyafter I Jana decide to retire.
David Bruno (04:39):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I would certainly thinkso.
And I mean, just look ateverybody having a look,
everybody having a great time,just the engagement of
everybody.
I mean, you have the whole teamall hands on deck doing this,
and I think that's great.
Everybody's looking likethey're having a legitimately
having a fun time doing this.
Yeah.
And even I have fun doing this,dressing up as the turkey.
I mean, I I I was a little uhhesitant about it at first when
you guys talked me into it, butI've been having a good time
(05:00):
with it.
And just a couple people comeover.
Hey, can we get a picture withyou with the kids and all that?
It puts a smile on my face,too.
And of course, everybody seemsto enjoy it.
Ty Backer (05:08):
This puts yeah, puts people a little bit, uh just
gives people some good news.
Thank you.
And honestly, that's that's howthis whole thing got started.
It wasn't our targetnecessarily wasn't the less
fortunate, it was because of theturmoil we felt, I don't, the
country, our town, our city.
There was just a lot going onduring COVID, and we really just
(05:29):
wanted to do something very uhpositive due to all the
negativity and the divide andall the crap that was going on.
It was kind of like we didn'twe didn't care, we don't, we
still don't care, you know, whatwhat position you are in life
or where you're at in your life.
We're like this is open toeverybody business owners, the
less fortunate, uh, religion,nothing, none of that, none of
(05:51):
them.
Just come down, participate,whether you're volunteering.
We've got probably close to, Ithink at one point, like close
to 300 volunteers here.
Um, I was told about an hourago we had already served over
800 people.
Um, we're not even halfwaythrough.
Fortunately, we we we haveenough food this year, and if
anything, I I kind of hope wehave some food left over because
(06:12):
typically we run out of foodand have to turn people away.
David Bruno (06:15):
Yeah, see, that'd be great.
And I mean, I'm looking at theportion sizes too that you folks
are putting out.
I mean, there's some, yeah,you're filled.
I mean, you're filling thosecontainers.
Yeah.
So you don't have to, nobody'suh getting it.
Ty Backer (06:25):
Yeah, we're not playing around.
I mean, the youth is out here.
There's a lot, I can't believethe the younger generation has
really stepped up to to helpvolunteer with this thing.
We got boys' clubs, we haveyouth clubs, we have um our our
team members' children are outhere on the on the front lines
here serving food.
And uh big shout out, I want togive a big shout out to Mark
Jones over at JCB events.
(06:46):
He it's a food truck service.
They're actually down in thekitchen of the church making all
the sides and donated all thesides, the the the stuffing, the
gravy, the mashed potatoes, thecorn, all that stuff.
Uh they really stepped up himand his entire his wife, his
kill, his his kids, his family.
They stepped up, they're downthere now making stuff.
(07:06):
Um, our team and theirfamilies, it just it's become a
big foundation, huge foundationof the making and the
galvanizing of what TC Backerstands for.
This is a part of our corevalues, our culture.
It helps solidify that.
That way, you know, it's likeit's kind of you can feel it
start dying down, and then allof a sudden the 21 turkey
(07:28):
starts, you know, and we startgearing up for it, and
everybody's spirits start tolift back up, and then and then
Monday morning when we get backto work, like everybody takes
this servant attitude to everyjob site, yeah.
You know, and it lasts formonths and like three quarters
of the year, and then and thenwe're we're kicking off, you
(07:49):
know, swing for recovery, ourfood drives to kind of just keep
that that twinge, that light,that sparkle in everybody's
eyes.
David Bruno (07:56):
Kind of spread that stuff out a little bit every
few months, and there you go.
Ty Backer (07:58):
You keep everybody just yes in the field from one
to the next to the look forwardto it.
Yeah, it's almost the way thatwe re-recruit our team, you know
what I mean?
It just you know, to to keepthat buy-in.
Like this is why we're doingit, it's much more than a
paycheck.
It's this is why we do this, isbecause not only do we serve
we're serve five people that weprovide the community, whether
(08:24):
it's you know, we're running apromotion right now, free
gutters with with any roofinstallation up to 250 feet, 18
months, same as cash, like allthese things, like we're really
and we've lowered all of ourprices to kind of meet that, you
know, uh buyer's behavior oflike, you know, because let's
face it, you know what I mean?
Roof doesn't have to break yourbank.
(08:45):
So we have options.
We have so we can we'reproviding choices for people,
like you know, through thedifferent systems of roofing
packages that we offer to tofinancing, to credit cards, to
you know, less expensiveproducts, that you'll still get
the same life expectancy.
It just doesn't have that thatthat high big box store sticker
(09:07):
on the side of the package,which makes it a little bit more
palatable for people too.
David Bruno (09:11):
When they see that, that's it's it's a much softer
approach, yeah, than justbeating people over the head
with that with all those uh andsee, and this is the difference
too.
Ty Backer (09:19):
Our salespeople are actually get paid a salary.
You know what I mean?
They have health insurance,they're not 1099 subcontractors
only working for commission, sothey're not showing up
desperate, right?
You know, they're not showingup like I gotta get this deal to
serve my family.
No, we we actually pay oursales reps a commission.
So when they go into somebody'shouse, they're actually there
(09:41):
to serve them.
We want to figure out what theproblem is, diagnose it, and
make sure it doesn't happenagain.
David Bruno (09:46):
Yeah, yeah, and that's a good job.
I mean, uh and you've evengrown, you continue to grow and
expand the sales team prettysteadily, don't you?
Ty Backer (09:53):
Absolutely, and it and it's grown organically.
It's not I'm not even promotingor running ads for for sales
reps.
David Bruno (09:59):
Yeah, yeah, it where they just That's what I
mean.
People just see what you'redoing, and they're like exactly
hey, I've got some I got somestrengths in these areas, you
know.
You you're looking to youlooking to add on to your to
your team.
Absolutely.
Where can they fit in?
Ty Backer (10:12):
Yes, yeah, sure.
No, and like we've createdjobs.
I mean, we'll run into people,it's not even about like what
they know or or what you knowhow how to do certain things,
it's just it's we're hiringbased off of who they are, yeah,
as human beings, and then wewill train you up if you want to
do sales, you want to be on agutter crew, you want you want
to do estimating, like so versusactually going out there and
(10:34):
looking to recruit these people.
David Bruno (10:36):
It's just if somebody comes across in front
of you that seems to make sense,you'll you almost create
something for them.
Hey, you'll have to be like,hey, if you you know, we got
some good people here we'retalking to.
Maybe make a spot for them thatmay not have necessarily been
available or that you weren'tlooking to fill, but you're
like, hey, yeah, you got to dothat.
Ty Backer (10:54):
And a lot of times they create because they're such
good people, they actuallycreate a position for themselves
that we didn't even know weneeded.
They help fill gaps and findvoids that you know, because
they're they're just good,smart, you know, at what good at
what they do, and you know, atas being a first-generation
roofing contractor, this wasn'tsomething that was handed to me.
(11:16):
Right.
So we've been trying to, youknow, figure out how to build
the parachute, you know, whilealready jumped out of the plane
before we hit the ground, kindof kind of thing.
And and a lot like Vic.
Vic has created a position forhimself.
I mean, Chris Baker.
I mean, the list goes on andon.
And you know, this is the otherthing, too.
We've had other business ownerswho stopped their businesses to
(11:38):
actually come work for us justto be a part of this, like
literally four, five, six, uh atleast a half a dozen people,
Glenn, Jim, the list, Chuck,Vic.
You know, not some of them werein our industry and some of
them weren't in our industry.
David Bruno (11:53):
Right.
See, that that's see, that'sawesome.
That's awesome.
I mean, that's that's where youcan tell you have a great
culture going there, and that'sthe big thing.
A lot of businesses don't havethat.
No, and it's not even, or ifthey do, I mean it's there, but
it's not on the same par as kindof what you've established
here.
Yes, and I see that every timeI come here and I see the way
everybody engages, all the thegenuine fun and good time
everybody's having here.
(12:14):
I don't see anybody that'slike, oh yeah, man, I gotta be
here again, you know, I gotta dothis again for the whole for
the whole afternoon.
Ty Backer (12:21):
I don't see any of that, and that's uh it's and
that is a little surprising to adegree because that's just
yeah, but you know, that's no,everybody's all in, and they're
and they they they love whatyou're doing here today, and
it's because of events likethis, because culture culture
isn't static, you know, it'svery fluid, you know.
Sometimes we get off the tracka little bit and we gotta we
(12:42):
gotta realign it.
And but but having events likethis is what keeps it between
the guide rails, yeah.
Our culture, you know, and weif we because listen, not every
day is easy what we do.
We we work outside and all theelements, okay?
It could be hot, it could becold.
Um, we try to meet deadlines,we can't.
There's a lot of pressure, it'sa high stress, a lot of
(13:03):
pressure, sometimes dangerous,you know.
So it's not it's not theeasiest thing that we do.
Um, but having events like thisthat we carry into the office
Monday morning will bring thisenergy to the office.
Yeah, it makes it a lot easier,you know, to have a why and a
purpose outside of just apaycheck every single day.
And everybody knows that theirrole is important because if
(13:26):
they're doing a good job, whatit is that they do, whether it's
a physician, a whole entiredepartment that they're
overseeing, they know if they'redoing a good job, that the
people either under them orbeside them actually get to
bring a paycheck home.
Yeah, because we're doing agood job.
David Bruno (13:41):
Yeah.
And here's another thing, too.
I know you've got when we'retalking about events and things
like that, you've got the theYork Home Home and Garden show.
Yeah, coming out, and that onethere, too.
It's like when you go to theseshows, you see businesses,
they've got their little table,they've got a table, right?
But as maybe as big as thistable here, and they've got two
people there who are just tryingto squeeze and hammer whoever
they can.
(14:02):
Yeah, and there's there'snothing wrong with that, I
guess, because that's what thoseshows you expect.
That's the point of it.
But you don't expect what youdo in the setup you do, where
you've got you're showingeverything you have, you you've
got all, but you can have againhow many people there?
You've got your whole teamthere, it's it's more of like a
team building thing.
Yeah, you're gonna talk to you.
Ty Backer (14:21):
From from production to administrative to to our
sales team, of course.
Yeah, but there's probably lesssalespeople there than anything
else.
I think it's mostly ourproduction team and their
families that come out justbecause that's where we're at,
that's where we're hanging out.
And like we've become a bigfamily, yeah.
Like if Ty's gonna be there,Jan is gonna be there, and if
Vic's gonna be there, if Baker'sgonna be there, like I'm gonna
(14:41):
be there because that's justwhat they just like our trunk
retreats that we just did thisyear.
We've done them before yearspast, but like something was
different and special about thisyear's trunk or treats.
I'll tell you, the Dotties wasreally good.
I have not been to that.
David Bruno (14:54):
I said, I had no idea what to expect.
Ty Backer (14:57):
That was a big that was a lot bigger than I thought.
Yeah, there was a lot of peoplethere.
Yeah, there was a lot of peoplethere, and our teams come out
because that's where we were,you know, and so that's where it
was like, and we didn't evenreally ask anybody, like, hey,
are you gonna be there or likebeg them to be there, or they
just knew we were gonna bethere, they just showed up like
people came out of the woodworkfrom our team to just be there
(15:18):
because we were there, yeah.
You know, and that's that it'shard, that doesn't happen
overnight.
And if anybody's out there thatowns a business, like, man, how
did I do that?
Well, you gotta stay steadfast,you got to stay consistent, and
and that's probably the biggestthing is uh just stay
consistent to your word, youknow.
When you're indecisive andwishy-washy, and you know,
people don't know what to expectevery day when they come into
(15:40):
work, it's the door gonna belocked, how's the boss?
Is the door closed or is thedoor open?
And don't get me wrong, I amnot a saint and I'm not perfect,
but but it takes building up atrust bank, and every now and
then, you you know, because ofyou making so many deposits into
your trust bank, you can take awithdrawal.
David Bruno (15:57):
Yeah, I'm sure I'm sure most everybody on your team
knows if there's a day here, aday there, or a couple hours
early in the morning or late inthe afternoon when you just
don't seem like you're asapproachable.
I don't think anybody takesthat personally.
They're just like, whoa,something may have happened,
might be might be better toapproach this tomorrow morning
or later in the day.
And that's and that's thething, and but people understand
(16:18):
that, yeah, and that's becauseyou've been as transparent as
you are.
It's no mystery as to, youknow, hey, something must have
really yeah.
Ty Backer (16:26):
Yeah, and that's usually how I think how they
take that too, you know.
And it's like then that's andthat's I guess that's the
dichotomy of leadership becauseyou you also build up what's
called leadership equity.
So if I am pissed and I amraising my voice, there's
something major going on.
Speaker (16:40):
Oh, yeah.
Ty Backer (16:41):
It's not, you know, it doesn't fall on deaf ears,
like they they perk up, theylisten, like, okay, we're
messing up, the boss is pissedat it.
You know, it's it's nodifferent than when your parents
are pissed off at you.
It's like you you get more hurtbecause I let you down.
Yeah, not because I'm scared oryou know, dad's pissed again.
I guess I'm just gonna go to myroom and wait until he's not
pissed anymore.
They listen.
Yeah, they're like, okay, we'rescrewing up, dad's pissed.
(17:02):
Yep.
David Bruno (17:03):
You know, it's the same way.
There's and so that's again,that's a that's a good spot to
be in.
I mean, when when your teamrecognizes that, that's a good
thing.
You know, we have greatleadership.
Ty Backer (17:15):
Listen, we have great leadership.
It takes a village.
I didn't build this by myself,and it didn't happen overnight.
You know our team, you know theamazing people that are on our
team that any given time, if Igot hit by a bus, this thing
would still roll forward.
David Bruno (17:29):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, and that's great.
And I've uh it's been funmeeting everybody here.
You know, I come in here andeverybody jokes with me about,
you know, tipping me upside downand dunking me into the the
deep fire.
It's it's it's great, and I'mglad that uh it's it's cool to
be incorporated in that with uhwith you and the team.
So I I always appreciate cominghere, and uh I know you do.
Ty Backer (17:53):
I know you do.
I'm still waiting for ZachFisher to come work for us.
David Bruno (17:56):
He's like, I'm gonna get you.
Yeah, and he's gonna say it.
Ty Backer (17:58):
We're we're still waiting on him to come work for
us.
David Bruno (18:00):
Yeah, yeah.
Ty Backer (18:02):
No, no comment.
Excuse me?
No way, nope, it's all free.
Yep, good stuff.
Um, let me see if we can't getPastor Joel on here.
Where's he at?
Would Zach Fisher want to comeon?
I know, I know, I know.
(18:25):
How long have we been on?
We're getting rain in an hour.
Oh, alright.
Okay.
Yeah.
I almost feel like there's ayou're good?
Are you good?
Okay.
You know, no, it's good though.
This is uh I was um thismorning, I'll be honest with
(18:47):
you.
I was choked up when I sawAmanda, it was so crazy.
So Vic and I pulled in, and Iwas already choked up.
I was I was 20 minutes, rain in20 minutes.
Okay, so Vic and I I got outreal quick.
We had to move the barriers andget in here.
And here comes Miss Amanda.
Now it's dark, and myheadlights are shining on her.
(19:10):
I it was the picture I postedthis morning.
Okay, that's actually Amanda inthe middle of the street.
She was already here before Igot here.
Oh got here, and I got out andlike I don't know if she sensed
something, but she hugged me andI was crying.
I I'm seriously so overwhelmedwith with joy and gratitude.
(19:30):
I just it blows me away.
One first, first off, to havethe opportunity to be able to do
something like this, to havethe energy, the courage, the
tenacity, and bravery, okay, towhen we first started this.
Like nobody was even out in thestreets at the time when we
when we did this, okay.
Everybody was social distancingand working from home and all
the crazy nonsense that washappening at that time, okay.
(19:54):
But to have the the backing andsupport from actually York
City, and when they showed upthis morning to to move the
vehicles in as barriers here,they were just as excited, okay,
as I was.
But but getting back to how Iwas feeling coming in here, I
was thinking, man, if they ifthey knew who I was when I was a
(20:17):
kid growing up and a teenager,uh, and the hell that I raised,
it's just amazing what istranspired over the years of of
the man that I've become.
I guess and the trust that thecommunity has put in me and in
(20:37):
the company, and it man, I Ican't even, I'm I'm struggling
here to even try to even put itinto words.
Overwhelmed, I guess, of ofgratitude.
And I I think it's gratitude,you know, and and somebody I
heard, I read, listened tosomeplace.
It's like this is how youmeasure success.
Yeah, not not by the size ofyour bank account, because trust
(20:59):
me, I've been broke as a joke,but have served a thousand
plates of food and felt like thewealthiest man in the world
being broke and serving when Ididn't have it to give.
David Bruno (21:11):
Yeah, well, like I said too, and I was sitting over
there and I got talking to someof those folks, even taking a
couple pictures with them orwhatever the case is.
They were all of them weretalking about how appreciative
they are of you for doing thiseach and every year.
Ty Backer (21:23):
Yeah.
David Bruno (21:24):
And and this, yeah, this is uh, I mean, this is
good that you that you want tocontinue doing the absolute not
only continue doing it, but youwant it to grow and evolve and
expand each and every year, anduh just keep seeing it get
bigger and bigger and havingmore people turn out to uh you
know to participate in it, andand yeah, you know, just gonna
(21:44):
be amazing.
Ty Backer (21:44):
It is amazing.
Yeah, you know, and watching mykids grow up, you know, year
over year.
I see my my youngest son overthere.
Yeah, he's elbow deep inwhatever the heck he's doing
over there, and and ourgranddaughter, who you know has
been helping since she sinceshe's been born, you know, go
and get the pies, and you know,with my daughter and uh my wife
(22:06):
Jenna, and and to watch our kidsand grandchildren grow up, not
knowing any other way but toserve, yeah, is is is pretty
cool.
And um, you know, it's it's soimpactful.
It's it this goes way deeperthan what it does for me or what
it has done for me.
But to watch our team grow intoa completely different human
(22:26):
being prior to when theyactually started working here is
is uh the other the otherimpactful thing to to watch our
team who I'm not saying theycame in being selfish, but to
watch them grow into a selfless,uh more selfless individual,
human being, and their familiesare here participating,
(22:48):
screaming, jumping up and downin in uh joy to want to help.
Yeah, and and literallyprobably arguing and arm
wrestling and fighting overwho's gonna do what, you know,
is is what's really cool aboutit.
Like, and like you said,nobody's bitching, like, oh, I
gotta have to do this again.
It's like, no, they're fightingover, like, no, I'm deep frying
a turkey.
No, I'm deep frying a turkey,yeah, or no, I'm cutting the
(23:10):
turkeys, or no, I want to servepies, or I want to hand water
out.
It's pretty cool that peopleare are you know falling over
themselves to to want to comeout here and actually
participate in this and andspeaking of people who who need
to no, I'm just kidding.
There's Chris Marky.
Chris, come why don't you comein here and replace me?
Seriously, come in here andtalk to David for a minute.
(23:33):
I don't come here.
David Bruno (23:34):
But you gotta talk to me.
Ty Backer (23:35):
Yeah, it's he's like, why?
David Bruno (23:37):
Why don't I even talk to Bruno for him?
Yeah, go on.
Ty Backer (23:39):
Get in here and talk to David.
Come here, stud.
Come on, stud.
Well yeah, Marky, who won'tcome in, he will though
eventually.
He had played a big part in inuh mentoring me, and we kind of
mentor each other, I guess, atthis point in time, and and uh
(24:01):
has helped inspire a lot ofthese great ideas and thoughts.
And for someone for me to be asounding board, you know, along
with Big Dickie Talk, Big DickyTalk.
Anyhow, there's my wife.
I'm getting tired.
David Bruno (24:14):
I know you guys always have a lot of good
conversations, and you and youand he spent uh a lot of time
together.
And each time that he's been onthe been on an episode with
you, I've always those were someof the best conversations.
I've been I always hear somegood conversations, and and the
advancer back and forth a littlebit too, that which always
makes it fun.
Ty Backer (24:29):
So uh yes, but it is fun, but all of it's been fun,
it's been a journey.
Oh, yeah, you know, that we'reembracing, we're not bucking the
system and and fighting thejourney that we're on.
We're actually embracing thechallenges, you know, that come
with you know hosting thingslike this or the life in
general, you know, thechallenges that we've accepted
the challenges, and then there'srock.
David Bruno (24:48):
Yeah, we were just talking and his buddies are
here, and I just said over thethis course of the last couple
of years, I mean, heck, I don'teven know how you recognize he's
like big and he's he's got thelong hair.
I'm like, man, I said, look atthat.
Ty Backer (24:59):
He's trying, he's trying to take after you with
the long hair, right?
David Bruno (25:04):
I was gonna say Mr.
Ty Backer (25:05):
Hollywood got the beautiful long hair, the ladies
love it.
David Bruno (25:09):
If you can do those long locks like that, you gotta
do it while you can.
Ty Backer (25:12):
That's right, exactly.
Yeah, just ask Vic.
Do it while you can, buddy, oryou're gonna lose it.
Use it or lose it.
David Bruno (25:19):
Yeah, I'm just waiting.
I'm just waiting.
I think I'm I think if mine'sgonna go, it's gonna start right
up here on the top and startdisappearing.
Ty Backer (25:26):
Nah, you'll be fine.
You got a nice head of hair,buddy.
David Bruno (25:29):
I'm I'm hoping so.
Ty Backer (25:30):
I'm hoping so.
Well, awesome.
I how long have we been runninghere, Vicky?
30 minutes?
Seems a lot longer than let'ssee if we can get somebody in
here.
David Bruno (25:40):
It's like it seems a lot longer than that talking
to this guy.
Ty Backer (25:42):
No, I mean it's just I well, we've been here for a
while.
Yeah, it's been it'd be nice ifZach would get in here.
There's probably a littledelay.
I know he's listening.
Zach, you gonna come on here?
Come on.
How about Lauren?
Corona.
David Bruno (25:58):
There's Lauren, she's like, I'm not looking.
She's like, I'm not looking.
Ty Backer (26:02):
Hey, lady, hey you everyone's avoiding us like the
plague right now.
Hey, hey Peter, come here.
Oh, he will, he will.
I know he will.
Come on in here.
You know David?
Sure.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Jump on introduction.
What am I doing here?
Jump in.
Introduce yourself.
Like right now?
My name is Pete Vasick.
And I am live on what am Idoing?
Oh, it's gonna rain.
Oh, it's gonna rain, okay.
What are we talking about,David?
(26:41):
We're just not gonna tell us,tell us about uh the experience
here this morning.
It was gonna rain, yes it is.
It was it was great.
Yeah, yeah, it was my firsttime.
So I'm a newbie, and I got touh between the turkeys last
night, get up, and my first uhturkey drop.
So yeah, but everything herewas awesome.
David Bruno (27:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
These are always fun.
I'm glad to uh it's cool seeingyou here, and it's uh you know,
I've been able to participatewith these guys for the last
number of years.
And it's always great.
I always enjoy this thing here,and people laugh and carry on
with me wearing this topic everytime.
But I love it.
Every now and then there's acouple people that come by and
say, Hey, good, we get a pictureof you about kids or something.
And that's that that puts asmile on my face because I just
(27:26):
want everybody to have a goodtime.
And walking around like thatmakes people laugh a little bit
while they're just you know orbrightness anybody's day and
kind of a collaboration withwhatever you guys are doing
here, and that's great, youknow.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, I love I love the outfit.
I love the outfit.
I think you're the mascot.
Oh, I know, yeah.
I think you're the mascot.
Uh it's perfect, and you uh youpull it off.
Yeah, yeah.
So it's always fun.
Speaker (27:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, but no, um, it was it's been a great day, the
weather turned out compared toyesterday.
David Bruno (27:56):
The weather compared to where it's gonna be
compared to where it's gonna bethe rest of the week.
Right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
This was this was new day.
God shy.
Yes indeed.
Weather couldn't have beenbetter.
It was so foggy this morning,you would have never thought the
sun was gonna come out.
And it came out.
Yeah, man.
So yeah, I'm I'm glad I got tofinally participate in this
thing.
David Bruno (28:19):
Awesome, and uh it's always good seeing always
good seeing Ty and the familyand everything.
Yeah, he's uh all engaged andhaving a good time with this, so
yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Everybody helped out.
Uh McKenzie's daughter, she dida great job giving the pies
out.
Although she didn't want togive me a pie.
She said I was a pie thief, andI don't really uh but I still
took one, okay?
I mean, she scolded me, but Istill took one.
Which one did you go with?
I'm on the cherry.
The cherry pie.
I mean, I could have gone withthe apple, but I went with the
(28:53):
cherry, yeah.
There was a strawberry creampie, I thought that sounded
pretty good.
I'm surprised you didn't bringthe golf clubs with you here
today, next.
They're not that far away.
They're just they're just downthe street.
But uh, yeah, so it's been it'sbeen a good day.
I'm glad you're here.
Awesome, yeah.
David Bruno (29:10):
Always fun.
Always glad that I always gotit.
Oh gotta grab Baker real quick.
Gotta grab Baker.
Let me wrap it up.
Rain coming.
All right.
Thank you, Victor.
Appreciate it.
Yes, thanks.
Thanks for including me.
Thanks to hide, everybody.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.