By Gary Nager
From its humble beginnings with a crowd of fewer than 500 people when it first began nine years ago, the annual Rotary PigFest has blossomed into one of the premier events in our area year after year.
The 2012 PigFest, held on a âmuy calienteâ Cinco de Mayo at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd., nearly doubled the previous record PigFest attendance of 900, as more than 1,500 tickets were sold, thanks to the efforts of event co-chairs Peter Gambacorta and Robert Garofano of the New Tampa (breakfast)âRotary Club, as well as tremendous support from five other local Rotary Clubs â New Tampa Noon, New Tampa Evening, Wesley Chapel, Temple Terrace and Tampa North.
Although we donât know precisely how much money, in terms of net proceeds, was raised through ticket and âPigBuckâ (used to purchase items during the event) sales to benefit the selected charities of each Rotary club, Gambacorta said, âWe definitely took a step up this year.â
Although we donât know precisely how much money, in terms of net proceeds, was raised through ticket and âPigBuckâ (used to purchase items during the event) sales to benefit the selected charities of each Rotary club, Gambacorta said, âWe definitely took a step up this year.â
Gambacorta, Garofano and company had good reason to be proud.
Despite temperatures that sweltered near 90Âș, the nine pig-roasting teams put on a great show (including giving out hundreds of free samples), Lee Roy Selmonâs provided delicious BBQâpork &ââfixinsâ for the attendees, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn enjoyed judging the pie-eating contest, the entertainment (including the first-ever PigFest bungee jumping booth) was outstanding and business vendors sold everything from market-fresh veggies to solar heating solutions and legal services. One lucky winner went home with more than $1,000 in the dayâs 50/50 drawing and the classic &âcustom car show featured everything from a $200,000+ McLaren MP4-12C sports car to the âPeopleâs Choiceâ award-winning classic VWâbug.
Last yearâs pig-roast-winning team, the Meat Monkeys of St. James Church, did not repeat, as multiple-time former winner Gary Callicoat of Callyâs Sticky Bones BBQ &âthe âSir Pigs AâLotâ team took this yearâs top honors, which. for the first time, was judged according to Florida BBQâAssn. rules.
But, the big winners were still the attendees, the six Rotary clubs and their preferred charities.
To get involved in next yearâs PigFest, visit RotaryPigFest.com!
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