Johnsonville is jumping the gun on America’s big 250th birthday bash by kicking off celebrations for the country’s 249th year with a tongue-in-cheek “fun deficit” campaign. According to the 2025 Johnsonville National Temperature Check by The Harris Poll, 78 percent of Americans say they’re spending less time hanging out, 64 percent agree that having fun with others is harder than it used to be, and over 90 percent believe that communities make more progress—and enjoy themselves more—when they share good food.
To spark some togetherness, the brand is giving away 80-pound “Party Starter” packs containing 249 sausage links to 249 winners. Each variety box includes favorites like original bratwurst, Beddar with Cheddar and the new hot dog, plus summer sausage, branded swag and a collapsible hand cart for hauling all that sausage straight to the grill. Entries are open through June 16 at partystarter249.com—just submit a 249-character story about someone who brings people together for fun and food—and winners will be notified by June 17, with deliveries arriving before the Fourth of July.
The campaign builds on Johnsonville’s Keep It Juicy platform, which launched last year to celebrate unity, and underscores the idea that you don’t have to wait for a milestone anniversary to gather with friends over delicious food.