Elkmont BBQ Cookoff Newly Sanctioned By KCBS

Written by
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

The Elkmont Alabama Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street Barbecue Cook-Off Backyard Division is newly sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.  This new recognition means professional judges that work the KCBS circuit will be the tough tastebuds to please for the non-professional cook teams.  It also means that teams will have a chance to earn points not only with the Alabama Barbecue Association but also with the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

The Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street Barbecue Cook-Off has been a long-standing member of the Alabama Barbecue Association and the Alabama Barbecue Trail and adding the KCBS sanctioning adds another feather to this popular cookoff.

The teams pour into downtown Elkmont early Thursday before the actual competition.  They set up shop - coolers of ice, trimming meat, making sauces and talking things up -  before they prepare for a night of bringing the smokers and cookers to temp.  After a long night of tending with special wood blends, charcoals, and other such backyard secrets to get the cookers and smokers up-to-temp up, it's time for the real business on Friday.  The cook teams commence the very aromatic process of the competition that has filled the air of Limestone County to the point it has even caused pause and inquiry among the citizens in Athens to figure out where the tasty smell could be emanating from (image how alluring the smell must be at the interstate at Elkmont and the State of Alabama Welcome Center).


Backyard Teams are encouraged to signup early via the elkmontlionsclub.com website.

Athens Garden Club Presents: Experiencing Bird Migration in Your Backyard with Mr. Herb Lewis

For Publication:    Athens Garden Club (AGC)

The AGC is sponsoring a special event on Saturday morning, March 12, 2016. The event is free to the public and will be held at the Athens Public Library, 603 S. Jefferson Street, Athens, AL 25611.   The event begins at 10:00 am, with door prizes awarded.

Mr. Herb Lewis, Honorary Master Gardener, will present: 

 "Experiencing Bird Migration in Your Backyard"

Upon retiring from the Defense industry, Mr. Lewis' hobbies of gardening, landscaping and birding were focused on creating a backyard wildlife habitat to attract a myriad of birds to his residential yard. The yard provides the  perfect backdrop for photographing many different species of birds.
Mr. Lewis' successful efforts resulted in certification from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. For inquiries regarding this event please call:       256-233-7408  or   256-998-0232

The Athens Garden Club monthly meetings are held at the First Baptist Church in Tanner, AL on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, September thru May. More information may be obtained by emailing the AGC at:  athensgardenclub@aol.com