2012 Suncoast BBQ Bash News

Myron will be at the Suncoast BBQ Bash on Thursday and Friday for interviews and to start his team’s preparation for the BBQ cook off contest on Saturday. Due to an unexpected taping schedule change for Pitmasters, he will leave Saturday’s cooking duties in the capable hands of his Jack’s Old South team and his son, Michael Mixon

The Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children recently completed the renovations to the Gene Whipp Training for Special Olympic athletes. These renovations included resurfacing the parking lot, repairs to the exterior walls, compete exterior painting, and a storage addition.

Two of the most cherished southern traditions of all time will be married together helping to create one of the most popular events on the Suncoast.  The third annual Suncoast BBQ bash will be held on April 21, 2012 at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds in Venice Florida.

Visitors from around the southeastern United States have taken part in this event, with some coming from as far away as North Carolina.  Last year, over 4,000 local and out-of- town guests were treated to world-class barbeque and bluegrass music during this family friendly event.

“This is one of the most talked about BBQ cook-offs in the state of Florida,” says Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children organizer Don Fisher.  “We have worked hard all year to make this event an experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.  We look forward to sharing the best barbeque and bluegrass this area has to offer”.

Suncoast BBQ Bash organizers recently announced that the headliner for this year’s event will be The Boxcars from Nashville, Tennessee. Nominated for nine International Bluegrass Music Association awards, including Album of the Year. The event will also include a Bluegrass Jamboree from 11:30am to 7:00pm featuring local favorites, the Florida Mountain Boys, who have been playing together since 2006; the Skeeterland Band, whose members are all local area residents; and the Cry’n’Shames. With each band blending guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin to create, southern Bluegrass harmony, it will be an afternoon full of entertainment.

Visitors can also enjoy a Chili for Charity cook-off, a corn-hole tournament, cooking exhibits, the Canine Connections, the Kid’s Zone, Outdoor living exhibits, a poker run and bike show, and Jamming’ at the Pub.

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, some of the biggest names in bar-b-que will hit the suncoast. Unlike the many amateur cookoffs and rib festivals scheduled throughout Florida, the Suncoast BBQ Bash is a Jack Daniel’s World Championship Qualifier, which means the best of the best will showing off their skills for this cook-off.

Key Participants will include:

Myron Mixon, Jack’s Old South BBQ

Myron is the chief cook of the Jack’s Old South Competition Bar-B-Que Team. Started in 1996 to promote the family’s Bar-B-Que sauce, the team has won more than 200 grand championships and 40 state championships, and has also appeared on various television programs on The Food Network, the Discovery Channel, the History Channel and the Travel Channel.

Rob “Rub” Bagby, Swamp Boys

Participating in his first Bar-B-Que event in 2003, Rob earned his nickname, “Rub” from a mispronunciation. With the title of #1 overall for 2009 in the National BBQ Rankings, Jack Daniel’s World Champion, and over 31 grand championships, his nickname is well known in the world of bar-b-que.

Chad Ward, Whiskey Bent BBQ

Starting their backyard BBQ career in 2007, Whiskey Bent BBQ has been professionally competing since 2009 and has won more than 30 professional contests.

Dana Hills, Big Papa’s Country Kitchen

Big Papa’s has been a professional competition team since 2007, receiving more than 20 grand championship awards, including this year’s Tri-State Grand Champion. They have appeared on the Food Network, ESPN Speedweek and in NFL championship game coverage in 2009, for their award-winning Bar-B-Que.

Fifty teams of FBA Pitmasters are expected to compete at this year’s contest, including world champions, national champions, and state champions. Considered by many to be one of the best contests in the Southeast. Many of the competitors will be selling their ribs, chicken, pork and beef brisket to the general public.

Visitors can enjoy many fun family activities, a Chili for Charity Cook-off, the Bluegrass Jamboree, a corn-hole tournament, cooking exhibits, a poker run and bike show, the Kid’s Zone, Outdoor living exhibits, the Canine Connections, and Jammin’ at the Pub.

Suncoast BBQ Bash organizers today announced that the headliner for this year’s event will be The Boxcars from Nashville, Tennessee. Nominated for nine International Bluegrass Music Association awards, including Album of the Year, the band is known for its cutting-edge sound and southern charm. Launched in 2009, this group of award-winning instrumentalists and accomplished vocalists are bringing Contemporary Bluegrass to the suncoast for this year’s event.

The 3^rd annual Suncoast BBQ Bash, a Florida Bar-B-Que Association-sanctioned BBQ competition, will be held at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds in Venice, Florida, April 21, 2012 from 11:00am to 7:30pm. All of the proceeds from the event will go to the Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children Inc.

This year will feature a Jack Daniel’s World Championship Qualifier BBQ competition, Chili for Charity cook-off, and a cornhole tournament hosted by Habitat for Humanity, with free admission and parking for all attendees.

Entertainment will include a headliner TBA, Blue Grass and County Music by the Skeeterland Band, Florida Mountain Boys, and the Cry’n Shames, as well as continuous entertainment by Dean Johanesen, Irish Folk Dancing, Gillian McCormack-Aeppli, and other impromptu guests.

Save the date and come enjoy BBQ cooking demonstrations, outdoor sports exhibits, a kid’s zone, family activities, live music and good food all day at this years Suncoast BBQ Bash.

The Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children has almost completed the renovations to the Special Olympics building in Venice. The walls have been completely sealed, stuccoed, and painted. The storage addition to the facility should be finished by the middle of November.

Sponsorship packages to previous sponsors will be sent in the next several weeks.