19th Elgin Vol. Fire Dept BBQ, Elgin, TX

by Jen Carnahan

The Elgin cook-off was another big success this year with 55 teams. Garrick & Denise Brown and all of the volunteer firefighters and wives/girlfriends do an excellent job with this cook-off.  She especially wanted to thank Joy Schiller, Karen Edge, & Eva Bayer for helping monitor tables and helping to make sure everything was taken care of in the judging area.  The weather was perfect and with all the shade trees, the park is a wonderful place for a cook-off. 

Watch the calendar for next year’s date and plan to attend this event.

5th Buda County Fair BBQ & Chili, Buda, TX

 by Laverne Akin

 What a first time sanctioned event—GREAT EVENT-GREAT WEATHER-GREAT FOLKS  35 BBQ teams, 41 bean cooks, and 38 chili cooks participated in this event.  The Buda Lions Club did a great job putting on this event.

It was estimated that approximately 20,000 people visited the park Saturday and Sunday. Other events at the park was the Weiner dog races—600 dogs ran in 148 races. (never seen so many dogs going in different directions) 100 crafters and food vendors, music and fireworks.

Special thanks to Keith Handrick and Frankie Hoch (who I still think grew up in Louisiana) for the outstanding job in organizing this cook-off. Mark your calendar for next year.

Ascension Parish Bicentennial Festival & BBQ, Gonzales, LA.

 by Michelle Wade

 Nobody knows how to throw a party quite like Cajuns and Ascension Parish is smack in the middle of South Louisiana.  Friday night kicked off with a VIP/sponsor/cooks reception that included mini mufflettas, pasta salad, and several kinds of gourmet cake to die for—wash it all down with cold drinks.

The three day event included several bands along with Tracey Lawrence, Better than Ezra, and Three Dog Night.  A huge carnival, food vendors displaying local flavor, arts and crafts, antique farm equipment, car and motorcycle show, petting zoo with lots of exotic animals. (Doug Ritter had an attraction to the camel, but that is another story) Friday and Saturday night was concluded with a large firework and laser show.

The facilities, Lamar Dixon Expo Center, had full hook-ups for Friday night, which was included in the entry fee, and additional nights were available.  There were restrooms spaced out around the RV site complete with showers.

You couldn’t have asked for better weather with 27 teams participating in this LA. State Championship BBQ.  Congratulations to all of those that got their names called.

They told us, “we want you to leave fat and happy”, so we followed their instructions by leaving fat...happy...and even a few with hangovers!  Watch for this date on the calendar for next year.

2007 ANNUAL SATURDAY MEETING

The 2007 Annual Saturday meeting will be held in Austin again this year on August 4, 2007.  We felt that it is a central location for most areas.  It will be at the VFW 8787, 500 VFW Rd., Austin.

Thanks to Dee Dee Barton for  securing the location for us again this year.

Remember this is election year—and nominations will be accepted by mail or email.  Positions to be filled are Executive Director and  2 Board of Directors at Large.

Any proposed rule changes should be mail or emailed to the office prior to July 25.

Anyone having any suggestions as to things that they might like to see at the meeting, please contact us.  This is your organization.