SMOKIN' AT THE RAILROAD

This Friday and Saturday will bring at least twenty-six teams from Tennessee and Alabama to baste, rub, grille and smoke chicken and ribs in hopes of winning the title of Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad BBQ Cook-Off grand champion.  It has been included as part of the Alabma Tourism Department's Barbecue Trail which will spotlights some of the best barbecue in the state.  There will be lots of fun, music and fantastic food.   The Lions Club will be selling BBQ sandwiches and plates along with hamburgers and hotdogs. Your chance to taste all the cookers products will be during the Tasters Choice you buy a ticket for $1.00 and you get to taste all the BBQ entered. After you make your choice, put your ticket in that competitor's container, the winner will be awarded a plaque and $100.00.

Susan Pylant, one of the event founders, believes the BBQ contest is a fun event for Elkmont and Limestone County. "We've got a cute little town.  There's a lot of history up here. We're trying to promote our town and bring people from all over here.  We are blessed that the town of Elkmont helps sponsor this event. The Smokin' Railroad Street BBQ Cook-off has grown each year.  We have people coming from as far south as Theodore and from all over Alabama and southern Tennessee.  We only have backyard BBQ here.  We don't have professionals."

Friday:
Backyard competition is at 6 pm
Live Music

Saturday:
Vendor tents open @ 8 am
People's Choice Tickets go on sale @ 10 am
BBQ Cook-off People's Choice Tasting @ 11 am
People Choice Award @ 2:30 pm
Antique Tractor Show

The first Elkmont Lions Club BBQ event was two weeks after the April 2011 tornadoes. It was something that the Limestone County community needed to take their minds off the destruction and loss that those storms caused.  Nine competitors put their cooking skills on display for that first Smokin' Railroad Street BBQ.  It has grown each year and over 26 teams will be competing.  Look for our local competitors, Joseph Down and Doug Swain.  

The Lions Club uses the proceeds from the event to help with purchasing eyeglasses and eye exams for students in the Elkmont School District.  It also funds two $1500 scholarships for Elkmont seniors to aid them in paying for their college.  The Elkmont Lions Club also help to send children to Seale Harris, a camp for children with diabetes. 

Last year's winners:
Grand Champion:
 Slingin' Pig Meat headed by Travis Prince of Owens Cross Roads. 

Reserve grand champion:
Pit Row BBQ and Rusty Weaver from Tuscumbia. 

People's Choice Award: 
Huntsville's Alan Osmer and Grill'n N Chill'n

Category winners were:
Chicken:
First:     Slingin' Pig Meat
Second: Grill'n N Chill'n
Third:    Mack Attack of Florence

In ribs:

First:      Pit Row BBQ

Second: Citizens Bank and Trust of Elkmont, Third:    Blowin' Smoke BBQ of Taft, Tenn.