The Lake Placid, NY – I love Barbecue Festival
Press Release 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2006

CONTACTS:
Dmitry Feld, ILBBQF Sponsorship/Marketing, dmitryf@ilbbqf.com , 518-523-2071 , ext. 104
Jon Lundin, ILBBQF Communications Coordinator, jonl@ilbbqf.com , 518-891-8193

Grillin' and Barbequing Competition Returns to Lake Placid
Lake Placid , NY —I Love Barbeque Festival Set to Return June 29-July 1

LAKE PLACID , N.Y. --- Once again the nation's top barbeque masters will be returning to Lake Placid, N.Y., when the Olympic village plays host to the second annual Lake Placid, N.Y.—I Love Barbeque Festival (LBBQF).  An expected 30 teams will be competing June 29-July 1 on the Olympic Speedskating Oval.

“Last year's inaugural event brought 16 teams to Lake Placid and we expect to double that total this year,” said Shipman Youth Center board of director's president, Steve Preston.  “In addition to the larger of number teams, there will also be several new additions to this summer's event, including a midnight grillin' bash, a people's choice award, and several new celebrities.”

Among the 30 teams expected to compete during the three-day festival is the 2006 ILBBQF grand champion, I Smell Smoke, from Fitzwilliam, N.H.  “Winning the ILBBQ competition was one of the highlights of my competition experience last year,” remarked pit boss, Steve Farrin.  “The staff was wonderful and the location made me feel like an Olympic champion.  I can't wait to return and defend my title.”

In October, Farrin and his I Smell Smoke team competed against 550 teams, in the 27 th annual Royal America Barbeque Festival, held in Kansas City, Mo ., where they finished fourth overall.  Farrin and his crew also competed last weekend, Oct. 27-28, in the 18 th annual Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbeque, held Lynchburg, Tenn .

More than 8,000 people attended last summer's ILBBQF, in excess of $20,000.00 was raised for the Shipman Youth Center of Lake Placid, a not-for-profit community organization, which provides support to area youth, ages 10-18.  “When we began exploring this event, the Kansas City Barbeque Society explained to us that at best, we would break even,” noted Preston.  “With the support of local sponsors and the community, we far exceeded our goal and expectations.”

Although the second annual ILBBQF is still eight months away, teams and celebrities are already beginning to line up.  Rodney “Ziggy” Cheshire , the co-founder of the School of Southern Barbeque, will be one of the new celebrities attending this summer's event.  During the event, Cheshire will be demonstrating the barbeque techniques that have earned him three Missouri state championships and the 1985 Memphis in May grand championship title.

“It's exciting to add ‘Ziggy' to our list of celebrities,” said Preston.  “Along with ‘Ziggy,' there will be others who have made their name in barbeque, and of course John Frank, a two-time Super Bowl champion, and Mark Grimmette, a two-time Olympic luge medalist, will also return this summer.”

The $1,000.00 Midnight Grillin' Bash and a firework display kicks off the three-day festival, Friday night, June 29.  Saturday, June 30, teams will square off in the People's Choice Award competition (buck-a-rib).  The event concludes Sunday, July 1, when the top barbeque teams from around the country compete for $7,500.00 and the title of ILBBQF grand championship in the sanctioned Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contest.  The teams will compete in the four categories of chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket.

The second annual ILBBQF will also feature food demonstrations with area chefs and barbeque pit masters, music, celebrity appearances and children's rides and games.  General admission tickets are $5.00 for adults, while children 12 and under will be admitted free.  For more information on the Lake Placid, NY—I Love Barbeque Festival , visit www.ILBBQF.com.

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Thomas Shipman, a Lake Placid police officer whose life was cut short in 1999, inspired the center, which the festival will benefit. For the past seven years, the Shipman Youth Center has provided a supervised safe and exciting environment and programs where local children can grow and develop as individuals.