TRIVIA CHALLENGE: A Fun Way to Spend and Evening and Benefit the Community

By Kristen Beckman

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A GROUP OF GIRAFFES IS CALLED?

If you know the answer is ‘a tower,’ or even if you don’t but you are a fan of trivia, you won’t want to miss the 5th Annual Broomfield Brain Trust 2022 Trivia Challenge, which will put Broomfield trivia fans to the test on their knowledge of a wide variety of topics. After taking 2021 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event returns this month to test players on their knowledge of topics such as animal groupings, human anatomy, world capitals, sports scandals, and TV families.

The challenge is scheduled to take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, at The Chateaux at Fox Meadows, 13600 Xavier Lane. Pizza, salad, drinks, and dessert are provided for participants and are included in each team’s entry fee. Trivia begins at 7:00 p.m. and includes eight categories consisting of 10 questions each. Questions are projected onto a screen, and participants fill out a form with their answers, which are tallied by monitors after each round.

Broomfield’s own Bruce Erley is scheduled to serve as master of ceremonies for the event.

The event is hosted and staffed by the Rotary Club of Broomfield Crossing, which brings in about 25 members and about 10-15 local high schoolers to help run the event. Proceeds from team entry donations are added to the Broomfield Crossing Rotary Foundation Fund, which supports several charities throughout the year including End Polio Now, Broomfield FISH, Emerald School, the Broomfield Veterans Museum, A Precious Child, and the Broomfield Community Foundation.

Questions are developed by the club’s Quiz Mistress and a few helpers from the club.

“It’s all very top secret,” said Broomfield Brain Trust Boss Jeff Taylor. “None of the questions leak out ahead of time.”

During the most recent challenge in 2020, 28 teams competed for the title “Smartest Brains in Broomfield.” The winning team – The Emily’s Stars team sponsored by Emily Joo – answered 58 of 80 questions correctly to take home the coveted electronic Broomfield Brain Trust trophy. The competition was so close that the top three teams finished only four points apart.

Space is limited to 30 teams this year. Taylor said individual participants and smaller groups can be paired together to form a complete team of six. Participants are asked to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a recent negative test to provide as safe a gathering as possible. Taylor said nonparticipants may attend to watch the event for $25, which includes food.

Since the event was launched six years ago, participation has grown each year, starting with 15 teams during its first year and nearly doubling that as of 2020. Taylor said many teams return to participate year after year. Proceeds raised total between $3,000 and $5,000, said Taylor. “It’s a very fun way to spend an evening and benefit the Broomfield community,” said Taylor. “That’s the reason people come and I have to say we don’t disappoint.”

To sign up to participate, contact Taylor at taylorx3@comcast.net.