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Highlands Today

Pig Fest Preparations Heat Up

File photo, Highlands Today

Barbecue teams from across the state as well as out of state will compete at this year's Pig Fest for bragging rights in several categories including chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulderbutt and brisket.

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: January 7, 2009

SEBRING - It's time to sharpen those knives and get the grills smokin' - at least for these contestants.

As Pig Fest rolls around once again, those entering the annual barbecue contest will begin setting up their grills today at Firemen's Field in Sebring.

The event, which is officially known as the Central Florida BBQ Festival - 12 Hours of BBQ, runs Friday and Saturday.

Forty or more teams from as far away as Centerville, Ga., and Sycamore, Ga., and state and local teams will enjoy a heated competition in several categories for barbecue champ titles in this Florida Barbecue Association sanctioned event.

Chris Dunn, representing the Sebring Firemen Inc., is the chairman of the festival.

"We expect to have a full field of contestants, same as last year," said Dunn. "I think it's about 42 teams."

The gates will open at 11 a.m. Friday, said Dunn, and entrants will be allowed to vend food on Friday and Saturday, this year.

As many as 50 entries will help kick off this year's Tractor Parade, which will be held between noon and 1 p.m. on Friday, according to George White, parade coordinator.

The Pig Fest has been going on since 1994, he said. The tractor parade began a few years later.

"It's just show up and get in it," said White. "We usually get from 20 to 50 entrants each year. We're expecting the Florida Flywheelers to come and get in with their tractors and antique cars. I'm hoping to get a hold of someone with the racing lawnmowers. I'm hoping to get them into the parade."

The parade will line up on Persimmon Street, rolling to Oak Avenue at Hickory Street to South Ridgewood Drive and will proceed north to Circle Park and loop around to South Commerce Avenue to McLain Lane. It will then hang a right turn, ending the procession at Firemen's Field.

Sebring Firemen Inc. is determined to make this year's festival really "smoke," according to its Web site.

There will be 60 FBA certified men and women judging the various contests, including Friday's "Anything But" category, in which contestants can enter anything that is not being judged elsewhere, like seafood dishes. There will also be contests for the best beer-can chicken, chili and barbecue sauces.

On Saturday, the judges will pick the winning pork ribs, pork shoulder/butt, chicken and brisket; and even some apple pie.

"It's all blind judging," said Dunn. "They don't know whose food they're judging. They are in a separate building and the food is brought in to them."

They do not judge the People's Choice contest, he said.

Pig-racing fans won't be disappointed with the little piggies going through their paces at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday and for more fun, at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Saturday.

There will be two live bands, featuring Canyon River from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Back Stage Pass from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, on the main stage. Local radio personality Rooter Rush will also be at the festival providing disc jockey services.

The BP Bass Boat Simulator is back from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, providing free rides, said Dunn.

The Sebring Firemen Inc. also sponsors other events, including the Highlands County Fair and Bullistic, an annual bull-riding event.

"All the money Sebring Firemen Inc. events raise goes toward Sebring athletics," said Dunn.

From uniforms to a newly built locker room at the southern end of the current football field, Sebring Firemen has assisted in raising thousands of dollars to benefit the school's athletic programs and to make Firemen's Field improvements, according to the organization's Web site.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at 863-386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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