Thursday, April 16, 2009

Southeast Old Thresher's Reunion Awards $2,000 for Scholarship Pageant


DENTON, NC (April 17, 2009) – Are you looking for a college scholarship? If so, the Southeast Old Threshers Reunion is giving away $2,000. No, you don’t have to work in the fields, but you do need to have a desire to be on stage and be a contestant in the 2009 Southeast Thresher’s Queen Scholarship Pageant.

The Southeast Old Thresher’s Reunion, the largest antique farm equipment and steam engine show in the Southeast, will be held June 30-July 4 at the Denton FarmPark in Denton, N.C. The pageant will be held on June 27 in the outdoor amphitheater at the FarmPark.

The new queen will reign over the 5-day festival. She will be the event’s Goodwill Ambassador to many festivals, pageants and parades throughout the state of North Carolina.

“The Reunion has helped talented girls further their education. For instance, some have gone into medicine, teaching, marketing and sales. One even landed a job as a professional actress,” said pageant organizer Keith Loflin.

Contestants for the title of Southeast Thresher’s Queen must be rising high school seniors from home-schools, private or public schools. Girls up to 24 years old may participate. They must be single, never have had a child or been married.

Contestants must reside, work or attend school in any of the following counties: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union and Yadkin.

The major scholarship sponsor for 2009 is Back Country Water Stoves of Denton, N.C.
The winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship and a host of prizes. Second and third place finishers will receive scholarships of $450 and $350, respectively. Additional awards will be given in four competition categories: Best Interview, Best “Country Cutie” Outfit, Best Casual Outfit and Most Photogenic.

Entry fees are $50. The application deadline is June 13, 2009. For entry forms, rules and further information call Denton FarmPark at 1.800.458.2755 or email manager@threshers.com. The FarmPark is located 25 miles south of Lexington off NC Hwy 47 on 1072 Cranford Road.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

April 18 - Asheboro Chili Cookoff Attracts Creative Cooks


ASHEBORO, NC (April 1, 2009) -- Even though the Asheboro Chili Cookoff is giving away $1,500 to the lucky winner, the money isn’t what has pulled more than 30 cooks to the event. They just want to have fun at the town’s newest street festival.

The event will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 1-10 p.m. in downtown Asheboro. The event will include musical entertainment, a Kid’s Zone, a Hot Head Contest and lots of tasting. The winner of a raffle drawing will go home with either $8,000 or up to $1,000 a month mortgage payment for a year.

It’s not too late to sign up. The deadline is April 15.

The slate of cookers ranges from novices who like to cook a pot of chili for their family – to award-winning contestants – to professional chefs. The common ingredient is they all have a passion for cooking. And when any of them throw a dinner party, they never get turned down.
Most have been testing their recipes – thus sparking more fun at home. Paul Stefanacci, of Asheboro, N.C., says the contest has become a family project. His wife, Robin, his mother, Ruth, four children and their spouses have been helping out. “Our chili is going to include the kitchen sink if I can get it in there,” he chuckled. This is his first chili cook-off, but with his neighbors, family and friends, he’s already a winner. “We’ve had rave reviews on our dry runs.” With strong Italian heritage, Stefanacci joked, “Even the Pope called wanting the recipe, but I had to turn him down!”

Neal Allen, from Asheboro, explained “I’m a scientist and an artist in the kitchen. I love creating flavors and making blends. I love experimenting.”

He’s a graduate from the Baltimore International Culinary College and works at Jugtown CafĂ© in Seagrove, N.C. Like the internationally-renowned Seagrove potters who masterfully create glazes for their pots, Allen works with starches, sugars and complex compounds in food. And old family recipes. Part of his creation is based upon a Southwestern recipe from the 1800s. His chili has won awards at other contests.

The team of Don Johnson and Ricky Jordan, from Asheboro, has won awards for their barbecue, but this is the first time they’ve entered a chili contest. Regionally, they’re known for their ‘Q at the Pinehurst Relay for Life. “But we wanted to do something different,” said Johnson. An avid gardener, his recipe will include preserved produce from his ½-acre garden. “I canned my tomatoes myself, so they have little salt and no preservatives. They’re healthy.”

“Our natural grass-fed beef will come from three local farms,” said Jordan. Their team is called “Country Cooking,” but will be serving “Caraway Fire Chili.”

Ashlee and James Edwards, owners of Off-the-Square restaurant in downtown Albemarle, are blending North Carolina and Texas tastes. “I’m from Texas,” said Ashlee. “You know, we are proud of our food and Texas beef chili. But my husband is from Asheboro, and he knows all about pork barbecue. So our chili will be a blend of both.”

With a combined 22 years of restaurant experience, the couple has learned from one another about cooking. Ashlee reflected “He graduated from the Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts and taught me some technical tricks in the kitchen. But I tend to be more spontaneous. So on the chili cookoff day, he’ll be tending the meat. But when he turns away, I’ll add a little more spice to it!”

“Mine will be a creative masterpiece,” says Joel Leonard, of Asheboro. Songwriter, professional writer and host of http://www.skilltv.net/, he just bought a new grill for the event. He’s been testing various recipes, one with beef marinated in Frangelica, a hazelnut-flavored liquor and beans soaked in Belgian beer. “Oh, the meat was absolutely delicious,” he commented. “But I’m still working on the right blend.”

Tourism writer and consultant Greta Lint says her research indicates the primary reason people attend a chili cook-off is for the chili. “It tugs at our curiosity – what will it taste like? Hot? Mild? Sweet? The anticipation is a common denominator that pulls us all together.”
For more information, log onto http://www.asheborochilicookoff.com/ or call organizer Bryan Vaughan at 336-302-4968.

April 10 - National Bluegrass Artists Perform in Troy

TROY, NC –When most 8-year olds were playing with toys, Troy native Greg Corbitt was learning his fingering on the banjo. By the age of 11, he had recorded his first album. Later in life, he performed at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.

He’s bringing his powerful tenor voice – and the rest of his band members in the Circuit Riders – to the James Garner Center in Troy, N.C. on April 10. They’ll be followed by the James King Band, known for their passionate lyrics and stories about life and being musicians.

Fans know James King as the “Bluegrass Storyteller.” When it comes to traditional bluegrass songs, he relays his own down home life tales in ways that relate to the audience.
Circuit Rider musician, Greg Luck was also drawn to music. When he was 7 years old, he was learning chords on this guitar. Since, he has performed with a slew of top bands, such as Redwing, Bass Mountain Boys, J.D. Crowe and the New South. He wrote “The Healing Kind,” a song recorded by Leanne Womack.

Luck lives in Montgomery County.

Showtime is 7 p.m. Reserved tickets are $20. General admission tickets may be purchased at the door for $15. For reservations, call Jeff Branch at 704-985-6987 or email jbranch@ctc.net.
The James Gardner Center is located at located just off NC Hwy. 109 at 210 Burnett Street in Troy, N.C.
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