Collier County’s longest-running pre-Thanksgiving tradition is back for its 69th year, bringing a steak lunch, live music and a fairgrounds full of neighbors together on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The Farm-City BBQ kicks off at 11:30 a.m. at the Collier County Fairgrounds, continuing a celebration held each year during National Farm-City Week to mark the ties between the area’s agricultural community and the businesses, organizations and residents who depend on it.
According to farmcitybbq.com, guests can expect a steak lunch featuring fresh vegetables grown in Immokalee, with youth from the event’s beneficiary organizations volunteering throughout the day and helping with fundraising activities. The Back Country Boys Band will provide live music, and volunteers along with elected officials will help serve lunch to the thousands of neighbors expected to turn out.
This year’s event has new leadership at the top. Russell Budd, founding partner of PBS Contractors, and Gloria Padilla, community relations manager for RCMA, will serve as co-chairs, while Paul Hiltz, president and CEO of NCH, takes on the role of honorary chair, organizers announced in September.
A Tradition Born From a Hard Harvest
The event’s roots stretch back 69 years to a difficult harvest season, when Naples business leaders stepped in to help local farming families get through a rough stretch. The following year, farmers returned the favor by hosting a community barbecue of their own, a gesture that grew into the tradition still running today, per the same farmcitybbq.com account…