04/24/2026
With heavy hearts, we raise a piece of baconāto our brother, our friend, our one and only Sergeant of Bacon, Mark Pederson.
Mark passed away unexpectedly on April 21, 2026, leaving behind his two boys, Reid and Graham, who he loved beyond measure and was endlessly proud of. His folks, Cherly & Denny Pederson, his brother Neil & Natalie Pederson, and two nephews.
If you knew Mark, you knew he didnāt just show upā¦ he brought it. He brought the energy, the stories, the laughs, and that unmistakable presence that made every room, every festival, every trip better.
We were lucky to share some unforgettable miles togetherāfrom the wild, beautiful chaos of Iceland, where the nights were long and the laughs were even longerā¦ to Keystone, Colorado, where the mountains echoed with bacon-fueled stories and brotherhood that only a few get to experience.
Mark wasnāt just part of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festivalā¦ he was part of the soul of it. The kind of guy who earned a title like āSergeant of Baconā not because it was givenābut because he lived it.
He was a loyal friend. The āthrough thick and thinā type that you donāt get many of in this life.
This one hurts.
But if thereās one thing we knowāitās that Mark would want us to keep the party going, keep the stories flowing, and never take a single moment for granted.
So this weekend, wherever you areā¦ fire up the griddle and give an āOHHHH, BACON!ā
To Mark.
To the memories.
To the miles we traveled together.
And to the ones weāll carry with us forever.
We love you, brother.
