68th Annual Farm-City BBQ

Collier County’s beloved pre-Thanksgiving tradition, TheFarm-City BBQ, is back for its 68th year!

This cherished gathering of food, fellowship, and purpose will be bringing together thousands of attendees made up of the business community, elected officials and neighbors–donned in cowboy hats, jeans and boots–on November 26, 2025, at 11:30 am at the Collier County Fairgrounds.

What began decades ago as a simple gesture of support between local farmers and business leaders has grown into an opportunity for leaders from the coastal and interior regions of the county to feast on locally grown food, give thanks for a thriving community and support the next generation of youth on the day before Thanksgiving.

This wildly popular, fun event includes networking, live-music by Back Country Boys Band and a hearty steak lunch served with Immokalee-grown vegetables as well as beer and wine. As a true, heartfelt display of service and tradition, volunteer business leaders man the grills and sides are served by Collier County elected officials who volunteer as celebrity servers.

Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farms will serve as Honorary Chair and Russell Budd and Gloria Padilla will serve as Co-Chairs.

“This event is a celebration of community connection and mutual appreciation that has made Farm-City BBQ one of the most well-attended and beloved annual events in Collier County,” said Budd, co-founder of PBS Contractors. “We consider it ‘the family reunion for the business community’, including the business of farming. Everyone is welcome. It’s a casual event with great food and great conversation that thousands look forward to all year.” Budd has chaired the event for the last three years and has been involved for over20 years.

The event takes place during National Farm-City Week, a time set aside during Thanksgiving to celebrate and recognize the beneficial partnerships between rural and urban communities that make our food supply safe and plentiful.

“Countless people in our community prepare, transport, market, and retail the food grown right here at 300 farms on almost 150,000 acres in Collier County,” added Padilla, Community Relationship Manager of RCMA, whose organization supports children in farm working and low-income families in Immokalee.

“Our goal with the event is to commemorate the interdependence of the vibrant network of farmers and businessowners who support the economy and our people. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to consider the food on our tables and where it comes from while raising funds to support our future leaders.”

TICKETS
$35 per person for the steak lunch or
$45 per person for a steak lunch and
drinks package.

THE PRICES WILL INCREASE FOR EVENT DAY WALK-INS.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT FARMCITYBBQ.COM

Wednesday NOVEMBER 26 2025 11:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.
Collier County Fairgrounds 751 39th Avenue NE Naples, FL 34120

Celebrate community, agriculture and the next generation of leaders this Thanksgiving