Squeal on the Eel bows out, will divide remaining funds among local nonprofits

Yahoo

06-02-2025

The Squeal on the Eel Festival announced on Tuesday that it would not be holding its summer 2025 event and was proceeding to close down as a nonprofit.
The Squeal on the Eel began in 2022 with backing from Tyson Foods as its main sponsor. However, Tyson had hoped the community would take an increased ownership of the festival and it could taper down its financial support.
'We kind of knew this was coming,' said Stephanie Helton, community liaison at Tyson and one of three co-organizers for the festival. 'We were hoping to get through this year and not continue on to year five.'
Helton said the event had lost some sponsors and other sponsors wanted to participate but could not commit at the financial levels they had in the past.
'[We] risked running the festival and going into the red and not being able to pay people or not running the festival, take the money that has carried over and make one more impact for not-for-profits,' she said.
Once the Squeal on the Eel is officially dissolved as a nonprofit, it will take the remaining funds and divide the money up between various community nonprofits.
Helton said she had reached out to other communities such as Kokomo and Lafayette in hopes to find new sponsors.
'This festival was intended to be a regional festival to showcase diversity in Logansport and showcase it's leading industries and serve as a tourist destination,' she said. 'While doing that we were bringing awareness to nonprofits and raising money to donate back to local charities.'
Helton said she was proud of the fact it was a three-person team that organized the festival each year.
Joining Helton was Tyson security chief Jason Snyder and production manager Eric Goodwin. They also received plenty of support from their families.
'I'm most proud that we were able to work really great as a team and pull off a festival that brought in some major headlining acts to Logansport and brought in around 10 thousand people from all surrounding states,' Helton said.
The first two Squeal on the Eel festivals in 2022 and 2023 drew approximately 10 thousand people to Riverside Park. However, attendance dropped dramatically for the 2024 edition with roughly 5,000 people coming out for the event.
Headlining acts included LOCASH in 2022, Black Stone Cherry in 2023 and Saliva in 2024.
The event also included a BBQ competition, arts and food vendors and the 2024 festival included a car show and pickleball tournament.
The first edition of Squeal on the Eel raised $60,000, which was divided between Emmaus Mission Center, 4th Dimension Recovery Home, Cass County Domestic Violence Task Force and The Father's House.
In 2023, $64,000 in funding was raised and used to support AMVETS, Cass County Special Olympics, Immigrant Connection and food and backpack programs at the four county schools.
Finally, the Squeal raised $40,000 last year and awarded funding to Area Five Agency, The Shrine Club, the Young America Fire Department and the United Way of Cass County's Reading Railroad.
'We helped a lot of people in town,' said Jason Snyder.
The support wasn't one sided. Each year, AMVETS turned out to provide manpower in terms of setting up and providing help and security during the event.
The festival also received volunteer help from Cass County Special Olympics, Lewis Cass Band Boosters, Cass County Roosters and many more.
The 2025 edition of the Squeal on the Eel was scheduled for June 14.
'Thank you to all the businesses that supported us throughout the years and believed in the Squeal on the Eel and thank you for everyone who came out the day of the event to support us,' Helton said.