Barbecue cook-off pays special tribute to veterans

Organizers of this year's Veterans Day Bar-B-Que Cook-off are hoping that the second year of the event will be a little less soggy.

"The event itself was great, but the weather was awful," Columbia County Recreation Department special events coordinator Beth Roberson said about the sideways rain that poured through last year's cook-off.

But with recent clear skies on her side, Roberson is moving ahead with plans for the department's 2nd annual Veterans Day event, which will be Nov. 15 at the Columbia County fairgrounds on Columbia Road.

Last year's event focused on the Vietnam War and included a traveling model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. This year's day will remember the Korean War, and a ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m.

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There also will be children's rides, arts and crafts vendors, a car show and a performance from the band Shiloh between 4 and 6 p.m.

But the main highlight will be the slow-cooked barbecue.

Professional teams sanctioned by the Memphis of May will be competing against each other in whole-hog, shoulders and ribs categories.

Weekend grillers also will have the chance to see how their recipes hold up against each other. Roberson said she will accept names to compete in the backyard teams competitions.

"We're very interested in getting as many teams as we can," she said.

There will be a tasting tent for the public so a people's choice award can be handed out.

Admission costs $1, and the proceeds go to support the county' recreation department.

WHAT: Veterans Day Bar-B-Que Cook-off

WHERE: Columbia County Fairgrounds on Columbia Road

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Those wanting to enter the backyard contest can call Beth Roberson at 868-3458.