Farm-City BBQ will be “smokin’ hot” on Nov. 27

Farm-City BBQ at Collier County Fairgrounds, Naples, Florida, USA

The corn shuckers and grill masters arrive early in the morning to prep the steaks and veggies. Bar captains put the beer and wine on ice. And the band does a sound check in the large, open barn.

They wait for the crowd of approximately 2,000 guests who attend the annual Farm-City BBQ, which celebrates the ties between Collier County agriculture and businesses. The popular charitable event has taken place for more than 65 years.

“We consider it ‘the family reunion for the business community’ and everyone is welcome,” said Russell Budd, event chair and co-founder of PBS Contractors. “It’s a casual event with great food and great conversation. People look forward to it all year.”

This year’s Farm-City BBQ, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Collier County Fairgrounds, 751 39th Ave. NE, Naples. The event is always held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Dozens of elected officials volunteer as “celebrity servers,” handing out 10-oz choice steaks, corn on the cob, baked beans, rolls, salad made from Immokalee-grown vegetables, and other lunch items.

Confirmed celebrity servers include 2024 Farm-City BBQ Honorary Chair and Collier County Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier,

Farm-City BBQ at Collier County Fairgrounds, Naples, Florida, USA

2023 Farm-City BBQ Honorary Chair and Florida State Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Collier County commissioners and local mayors.

The $30 ticket includes the meal plus beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. The Back Country Boys local country rock band will perform. Parking is free.

Tickets can be purchased at farmcitybbq.com or from one of the four youth charity beneficiaries: Collier County 4H Association, Collier County Junior Deputies League, Kiwanis’ Key Clubs, and Youth Leadership Collier.

Folding pocket steak knives with the Farm-City BBQ logo will be sold for $10 at the event, along with barbecue sauces produced by students with Taste of Immokalee and $10 bags of local produce donated by Lipman Family Farms and offered by 4-H. Raffle tickets for a Big Green Egg barbecue donated by Sunshine Ace Hardware will be available online and at the event for a suggested donation of $20 each.

Supporters include Immokalee Seminole Casino Hotel as Stage Sponsor, Sunshine Ace Hardware as Steak Sponsor, Planning Alternatives as Entertainment Sponsor, PBS Contractors as Grill Sponsor, Alico Citrus as Gate Sponsor, Naples Lumber as Bar Sponsor, and Life in Naples as a Media Sponsor. Additional sponsors include Arthrex, Ave Maria Development, Coleman Yovanovich Koester, Waste Management, Bank of America, Brian A. Glaeser State Farm, Coleman Taylor Klaus Et Al, JB Ranch, Motorola Solutions, Naples Area Board of REALTORS, Naples Airport Authority, Peninsula Engineering, GradyMinor, Stifel Nicolaus, and Stock Development.

For more information, call 239-262-0015.