July 18, 2012 - With bibs and wet naps at the ready, Woody’s Bar-B-Q® fans are getting psyched up for this weekend’s big event at a dozen Florida franchise locations. Saturday, July 21 marks the 5th Annual Spare Rib Eating Contest at the popular Sunshine State-based Southern Bar-B-Q chain. The finger-licking fun begins at 12 p.m.* as hundreds of competitive consumers sit down in front of trays piled high with slow-smoked spare ribs slathered in Woody’s famous bar-b-q sauce.

“This event was originally created in 2008 to commemorate the anniversary of Woody’s Bar-B-Q in a fun and memorable way,” explains company co-founder, Yolanda Mills-Mawman. “Over the years, it has grown in size and scope to something everyone looks forward to each summer – from our franchise owners, staff and patrons who get to enjoy the show, to our competitors who get to enjoy the food. It’s a true celebration for all involved. We try to make it as easy as possible for all of our contenders by making our spare ribs so incredibly delicious. The meat just falls right off the bone – all the contestants have to do is chew and swallow.”

Contestants will compete to see who can eat the most spare ribs within a 10 minute time span. Last year’s statewide champion downed an amazing 38 spare ribs by the time the final bell rang. A winner will be crowned at each of the participating locations. This year’s winners will each receive a coveted $100 “Q Card” gift card. There is no fee to participate and all contestants will be given a commemorative “I’m a Total Pig!” t-shirt.

The following Florida Woody’s locations will take part in the 5th Annual Spare Rib Eating Contest on July 21:

Bradenton Flagler Holly Hill Macclenny Melbourne Miami Palatka Ponte Vedra Powers Avenue in Jacksonville Sebastian University Boulevard in Jacksonville Wildwood

“We hope our Florida fans will make plans to visit their closest Woody’s location on Saturday to either watch the competition or participate in the festivities,” says Mills-Mawman. “Everyone is invited to our anniversary celebration – the one day that traditional table manners are out the window and it’s okay to eat like a total pig!”

*Start times for the Spare Rib Eating Contest may vary slightly from one location to the next. Interested parties should call their nearest location to confirm time of contest.

About Woody’s Bar-B-Q: After opening their first Woody’s Bar-B-Q in 1980, partners Woody Mills and Yolanda Mills-Mawman have spent the past three decades setting the “bar” higher for great Southern Bar-B-Q. From the humble beginnings of just one location in Jacksonville, Florida, a shared passion for Bar-B-Q, and a dog-eared collection of recipes, Mills and Mawman have grown the Woody’s Bar-B-Q brand to more than two dozen locations reaching from the Deep South where Bar-B-Q is king to the Northeast and Western fronts. Perhaps best known for their signature melt-in-your-mouth slow-smoked Bar-B-Q Baby Back Ribs, Woody’s has also built quite a following among patrons with their secret recipe Bar-B-Q sauces and meats, as well as their freshly prepared side dishes. For more information and a list of locations, visit http://www.woodys.com.

View Company Website: http://woodys.com/