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.
Michael Wynn, board chairman of the Farm-City BBQ and affiliated with Sunshine Ace, said the event honors agriculture's role in Collier County and celebrates the partnerships that continue to strengthen the community. Trista Meister, a spokesperson and longtime community leader, has described the gathering as a celebration of the relationships among agriculture, business and community that have shaped the county.
Where the Money Goes
Ticket proceeds flow directly into youth programs across Collier County. Beneficiaries this year include Collier County 4-H, Collier County Junior Deputies, Farm-City BBQ of Collier County, Key Clubs of Collier County and Youth Leadership Collier, supporting local youth leadership and scholarship efforts. Organizers say the event has raised more than $730,000 for youth development programs over its history, according to the same source.
Beyond the lunch itself, attendees can pick up carving knives and fresh vegetable bags donated by Lipman Family Farms, or try their luck in a raffle for a Big Green Egg grill donated by Sunshine Ace Hardware. The event draws sponsorship support from a long list of local businesses, including Alico Citrus, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management, Arthrex, Bank of America, Barron Collier and Florida Weekly, among others.
Ticket Prices and Past Turnout
Organizer materials posted in September listed tickets at $30 for the steak lunch or $40 for the steak lunch and drinks package, with prices scheduled to increase on Oct. 15 and again on Nov. 11. For comparison, the 2018 event in Immokalee sold about 2,700 tickets and raised roughly $60,000 through corporate sponsorships alone, as naplesnews.com reported at the time, part of a run in which the BBQ had raised more than $400,000 for local nonprofits over 16 years. That same report noted the event alternates annually between an in-town and a rural location.
With its 69th year now on the calendar, the Farm-City BBQ remains, as Florida Weekly describes it, a Thanksgiving tradition built on celebrating agriculture and community connections. For Collier County residents looking to mark the holiday season with a plate of steak and a side of local history, the fairgrounds will be the place to be on Nov. 25.
