TERRE HAUTE —
The thermometer seemed stuck on 90 as Jeff Hacker rolled more chicken onto a tray.
“You can just about do your chicken on top of the smoker this year,” the Versailles resident said while standing beneath a tent in Hulman & Co.’s north parking lot Friday evening.
One of an even dozen contestants in Clabber Girl’s Annual Brickyard BBQ Fest, Hacker brought his family along for the event, adding that they plan to enjoy some of the live music while in town this weekend.
“That’s part of the barbecuing,” he said, confident his recipes will come out on top in this afternoon’s judging. “This makes my fourth event this year. I keep getting better each time,” he said.
Teresa Shaffer, chairwoman of the festivities which also serve as a United Way fundraiser, said professional teams have come from Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky to compete for the $1,250 grand prize. The contest is hosted according to the Kansas City Barbecue Society regulations.
Walking through the Clabber Girl Festival Marketplace at North Ninth and Cherry streets, the stage was already up and ready for bands Friday evening. Vendors were ready to sell everything from catfish to turkey legs from 5 to midnight, then do it again today from noon to midnight.
“We’ve never done it two days before,” Shaffer said, adding that the days’ activities will be packed well into the night. In addition to a food court, beer garden and children’s activities, live music will include The Chris Weaver Band, direct from Nashville, Tenn.
Union Hospital’s annual Gladiator Challenge also begins this morning with a 5K run, followed by the pump fest and strongman competition at noon. The games will take place within the Hulman & Co. compound by the loading docks.
A car and motorcycle show will open at 4 p.m. today, along with the Colts in Motion tour, Race Car Simulators and Clabber Girl’s annual bake-off.
Admission is free to the sprawling complex which has morphed well past the inaugural year’s single parking lot and into a block-sized zone. Shaffer said donations will be accepted for the United Way of the Wabash Valley, and the group hopes to get a good kick-off for this year’s campaign.
And then there’s still the barbecue.
“They all have to make the same thing,” Shaffer said, explaining that the contestants get chicken, pork, ribs and beef to prepare their recipes. Judging will begin at noon today.
Whipping out their instruments from white trucks with “French Lick Resort” emblazoned across, chefs Robbie Bellew and Paul Owens were preparing their stand for competition.
“This is actually our first attempt at doing a KCBS event so we’re excited and nervous,” Bellew said.
The duo are chefs at the resort in French Lick and are competing on behalf of that kitchen, they said.
Vendors will open their booths today at noon.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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Good food abundant again at Clabber Girl Brickyard BBQ Fest
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