Whitley County Bicentennial BBQ Cookoff draws good crowd

Whether it was chicken legs on the bone, barbeque ribs, barbeque pork or shredded barbeque chicken, the cooks at the Whitley County Bicentennial BBQ Cookoff had a little something for everyone.

The Whitley County Bicentennial BBQ Cookoff drew six participants and several spectators Saturday.
Above, Curtis Surgener checks out some of competitor Ricky Joe Fore’s BBQ pork during the cookoff.

Half a dozen cooks took part in the first ever event outside the Whitley County Courthouse Saturday.

Muddy Boy Records provided free karaoke during the four-hour event, which lasted from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison, Daphne Stephens, and Commonwealth Attorney Elect Ronnie Bowling conducted the judging for the event. Each entry was assigned a number and judges didn’t know who the cooks were for any particular entry.

Greg Petrey brought home the first place award and a $50 gift card from Moonlight Meat Processing.

Rickie Joe Fore won second place and a $25 gift card from Bubby’s.

Pat White Jr. and Curtis Surgener tied for third place and received a $10 Kroger gift card.

Other participants included Dale Sulfridge and Buddy Eaton.

Curtis Surgener and Pat White Jr. tied for third place Saturday. Greg Petrey took home the first place prize and Fore won second place during the event.

Saturday’s event was organized by the Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr.’s office and was held to help commemorate the 200^th anniversary of Whitley County’s founding.

“I thought we had a good turnout. I am real excited about all the events that we have had as part of the bicentennial on the courthouse lawn,” White said.

“Seeing some of that activity in downtown Williamsburg on the weekend has been a lot of fun. I thought we had some good food and a pretty good time down there. Hopefully we will have some more events like that in the near future.”

White said he isn’t sure if the barbecue festival will become an annual event, but organizers are talking about doing it again sometime.

“I don’t know if we will do it as an annual event or attach it to another event that we are doing. It might be something to add to the fair or one of our other activities,” he added. “I thought it was a lot of fun. I think the people that participated enjoyed it. I think all the customers that came through enjoyed it as well.”