"A Des Moines–based supermarket chain with multibillion-dollar annual sales that was tapped to supply the modern cookout’s meals: thousands of 8-ounce strip-loin steaks sourced from South Dakota, hundreds of chicken breasts from Nebraska, and several hundred plant-based black-bean patties. Meals are portioned and served from a central food tent with traditional sides (baked beans, potato salad, bread), while food trucks offering ice cream, pastries, and local craft beer flank the main serving area, reflecting the retailer’s role as the event’s primary food partner and logistical backbone." - Gary He