Annual fundraiser offers tasty barbecue dishes this weekend

Friends Kyle Niekamp, left, and Brian Schmidt, both of Wardsville, helped raise money for the Special Learning Center by enjoying ribs during the 2010 Buck-A-Bone fundraiser.
Friends Kyle Niekamp, left, and Brian Schmidt, both of Wardsville, helped raise money for the Special Learning Center by enjoying ribs during the 2010 Buck-A-Bone fundraiser.

Barbecue aficionados unite Friday and Saturday at the 5th Annual Capital City Cook-Off at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fairgrounds.

Friday night festivities begin with Buck-A-Bone, the annual all-you-can-eat rib-fest benefiting the Special Learning Center Foundation.

For those observing Lent, shrimp gumbo will be served by Shad Kirton, the TLC cable network's BBQ Pitmaster 2010 winner.

Ribs and gumbo are available from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., or until they run out.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or at the Special Learning Center, 1115 Fairgrounds Road; Scruggs Lumber, 1707 Christy Dr.; Jefferson Bank (any location); Mid-America Wireless; Zesto South, 1730 Jefferson St.; or Providence Bank (any location).

On Saturday, championship barbecue winners and backyard cooks will compete in separate events to showcase their grilling skills.

The Kansas City Barbecue Society will be on hand to judge chicken, ribs, pork and brisket for the state championship.

Backyard division participants will be judged for their chicken and ribs.

For a $5 entry fee, the public is welcome to sample more than 50 pulled pork recipes to choose the People's Choice Pulled Pork winner. Zesto South will sell ribs and pulled pork from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and a beer garden will be open Friday and Saturday. In between bites of barbecue on Saturday, enjoy the 3rd Annual Capital City Cook-Off Bluegrass Festival, featuring local favorites.

Rain or shine, Summit Grass, The Martin Family, and Red Bridge will serenade the crowds with traditional and contemporary bluegrass sounds.

  1. Florida (21-2) beat Tennessee 94-78. Next: at Georgia, Wednesday.
  2. Wisconsin (22-2) beat Northwestern 69-52. Next: at Penn State, Wednesday.
  3. North Carolina (20-3) lost to N.C. State 83-79. Next: at No. 8 Duke, Wednesday.
  4. Ohio State (20-3) beat Michigan State 63-54. Next: vs. Michigan, Tuesday.
  5. UCLA (20-2) beat Oregon State 82-35. Next: vs. Southern California, Wednesday.
  6. Kansas (19-3) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M. Next: vs. Kansas State, Wednesday.
  7. Pittsburgh (20-3) did not play. Next: at West Virginia, Wednesday.
  8. Duke (18-4) did not play. Next: vs. Florida State, Sunday.
  9. Oregon (19-4) lost to Southern California 71-68. Next: vs. Arizona State, Thursday.
  10. Texas A&M (18-3) at No. 6 Kansas. Next: vs. No. 22 Texas, Monday.
  11. Memphis (19-3) beat SMU 88-52. Next: at UAB, Thursday.
  12. Oklahoma State (18-4) lost to Colorado 89-77. Next: at Oklahoma, Wednesday.
  13. Butler (22-2) beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 66-47. Next: at Cleveland State, Thursday.
  14. Marquette (20-4) beat Providence 69-62. Next: vs. Rutgers, Wednesday.
  15. Nevada (20-2) vs. Hawaii. Next: at Fresno State, Thursday.
  16. Virginia Tech (16-7) lost to Boston College 80-59. Next: vs. Virginia, Saturday.
  17. Air Force (20-3) beat Wyoming 88-43. Next: at San Diego State, Tuesday.
  18. Washington State (18-4) at Arizona State. Next: vs. No. 23 Stanford, Thursday.
  19. Alabama (17-5) beat South Carolina 64-61. Next: vs. Mississippi State, Wednesday.
  20. Arizona (15-7) beat Washington 84-54. Next: at Arizona State, Thursday.
  21. Notre Dame (18-4) at South Florida. Next: at DePaul, Thursday.
  22. Texas (16-6) lost to Kansas State 73-72. Next: at No. 10 Texas A&M, Saturday.
  23. Stanford (14-6) at California. Next: at No. 18 Washington State, Thursday.
  24. Vanderbilt (15-7) vs. Georgia. Next: at Tennessee, Saturday.
  25. Clemson (18-5) lost to Georgia Tech 80-62. Next: vs. Florida State, Wednesday.