Hey Gang! I hope you had a happy and safe July 4th holiday. This week's newsletter is short & sweet, but here's what's happening the world of Illinois BBQ Society... -> Kewanee Hog Days Jacking Up Prize Money -> Upcoming Contests... -> Heads Up... -> Recent Press Release -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- This newsletter brought to you by: Southern Illinois Bluegrass & BBQ Festival September 7th-8th, 2007 ~ Family Fun! KCBS Sanctioned, State Championship Contest http://www.BluegrassBBQ.com EARLYBIRD SIGN-UP BY END OF JULY! -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- -> Kewanee Hog Days Jacking Up Prize Money Janie Metscaviz, contest organizer, has announced that the Kewanee Hog Days BBQ Contest has upped the prize money for 1st place to $250 for EACH of the Three Meat Categories! The Pork Cook-off Showdown for Kewanee, Illinois..."Hog Capitol of the World" is scheduled for Sunday, August 26th. As an added bone-o-fun, they will be raffling off a Half Hog! Tickets will be available for $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. "Things are falling in place pretty good and already have a few entries from last year, so that is encouraging." reports Janie. They have plenty of room, and are really excited to meet, new teams from around the Midwest! For additional information, check out the Events page or visit the cook-off site at www.KewaneeHogDays.com . *************************************** Upcoming Backyard Contests... July 7th - 3rd Annual Prince Pig Cook-Off (During Pike County Pig Days Festival) - Pittsfield, Illinois Upcoming KCBS Contests... July 13th - 14th - Illinois State Championship & Butt to Butt Pork Invitational - Shannon, Illinois *************************************** -> Heads Up... ---> Please check your address book to make sure you're using the correct address for ILBBQS. When we first got going, we used a Yahoo! address...now that we're established and running strong, we have begun phasing out the Yahoo! address in favor of our own, branded, email address. The correct address is: bbq@ilbbqs.com . Please make any neccessary changes to your address book. *************************************** -> Recent Press Release I recently had a write-up in a local paper for competing in the 5th Annual King City BBQ Showdown in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. The article was printed, nearly word for word, from a press release that I emailed to all the local news entities...not because I did such a spectacular job in the contest (28th of 47), but to simply give them a free 'human interest' story, help to build BBQ awareness, gain name exposure for my team (could equate to catering gigs down the road) and for ILBBQS. Check out the article at http://www.salem-tc.com/news/2007/0629/Community/017.html (Thanks Peter for sending the link!) This is an example of the exposure we can acheive for both our teams, ourselves, and for the 'sport' of BBQ in Illinois. Go ahead...toot your own horn! If you've done something that you're proud of in the world of BBQ...send it in! Email it to your local radio stations, newspapers, and to me at ILBBQS so that we can share in your accomplishment. *************************************** If you have a BBQ related news item you would like to share with the group, be sure to send it in! There is an easy-to-use 'Submit News' button on our website at http://www.ILBBQS.com ...use it often! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Carpe 'Que, Jim 'Rhino' Reincke