History-2007-The Beginning

            The year 2007 marks the occasion of the 1st Annual Kenbridge Wild Game, Stew & BBQ Cook-Off. This one-day charitable event is centered on the family, and will honor all the men and women, past and present, who have served in our country’s Armed Forces. The event was conceived by Steve Israel, who along with his wife Pat, retired to the town of Kenbridge after military and civilian careers. Steve first attended a similar event in Galveston, Texas, with his son Tom and was very impressed with how much fun could be had, and how much good could be done for the local community. Knowing that BBQ and Stew cooking fund raisers are popular in Southside Virginia, Steve proposed the idea of a Cook-Off in Kenbridge to John Scales who is on the Board of Lunenburg County Ministries, a local charitable organization. With John’s enthusiastic support and Donnie Neblett’s knowledge of local event talent, planning for the 1st Annual Kenbridge Wild Game, Stew and BBQ Cook-Off was begun.
            The team was soon joined by Randy Lail who agreed to serve as Treasurer and to begin the establishment of the Lunenburg Charity Fund, Inc., a tax-exempt, non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Discussions with Kenbridge Mayor Dickie Harris and the Kenbridge Town Council soon provided the encouragement and approval to proceed with a first class Memorial Day weekend event to be held at the new Kenbridge Community Center on 5th Avenue.
            John Mahaney took on the responsibility for organizing and fielding the cooking teams. John is well known in Southside Virginia as a dedicated Stew and BBQ cook with a keen sense of humor and willingness to participate in charity fundraisers. The team began to grow in numbers with many local residents contributing their time and expertise. Nancy Bridgforth who had participated in the planning and execution of Kenbridge’s 75th Anniversary as a town, volunteered to organize the parade. Sallie Ann Buchanan put together a team to organize children’s activities. Rex Wolf, has agreed to manage the logistics. Local pastors, Jon Parks and Colonel Hobbs have agreed to integrate the Annual Lunenburg County Ministries Walk-A-Thon into the day’s activities, as well as planning and conducting the Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Local Southside Ruritan Clubs have offered to serve the food at the event.
            Steve loves Bluegrass music, so he contacted “Sweet Brenda and Him”, local Bobcat Radio DJs, who will emcee a first class Bluegrass Show for the event. The Wallace family, well known locally for their country music abilities, has agreed to join the show along with an appearance by George Winn.
            This Cook-Off event is planned as an annual for-charity event which will form the basis for entertainment when the Town of Kenbridge celebrates its 100th anniversary as a town in May 2008 – the Kenbridge Centennial Celebration.
            Finally, we thank you for visiting our website, which we believe is absolutely stunning. The Web Site was a project of Cassie Duarte’s Central High School computer class, with Kaitlynn Slaughter, Alex Walker and Derrick Cleaton responsible for its design.

2008—The Kenbridge Centennial

            The Town of Kenbridge was incorporated by the Virginia Assembly on March 14, 1908.  The 2008 Cook-Off event will anchor the Town of Kenbridge Centennial celebration which will run from March 14 to May 23-25, 2008.  A special Kenbridge Town Council meeting will be held on March 14, 2008 to receive commemorative resolutions from the Virginia Legislature and the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors.  Markers delineating the Fifth Avenue Historic District will also be dedicated at this time.  A special marker will be placed at the location of the Kennedy Store, which literally and symbolically marked the center of the Town prior to 1908.  The Mayor and Town Council will also participate in an event recognizing the importance of the Town’s beginnings.

            The Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25) daytime events will start on Friday with a golf tournament, and a Town of Kenbridge Reunion Dinner.  The Lunenburg Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a Talent/No Talent Show at 8:00 PM in the Kenbridge Community Center Auditorium. 

            Saturday events will start with a parade at 9:00AM and end with The Wallace Family in Concert for two shows, at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM.  In between, the children will enjoy puppet shows, jugglers, barrel train, petting zoo, face painting, and lots of games.  Everyone will be able to attend the Memorial Day Remembrance Program and the Centennial Program, both to be held in the Kenbridge Community Center Auditorium.  Attendee’s will be able to wander by the cook tents, listen to entertainment by military bands, and look at static displays of antique cars and military vehicles.  Food will be prepared by eighteen different cook teams, and will be served from 11:30AM until 6:30 PM.  A wide range of cooking styles will be available, including Hispanic and African-American. 

            Sunday events will include the Kenbridge Churches Open House and Luncheon.  In early afternoon, several residences will be open for the 5th Avenue Historic Home Tour, sponsored by the Lunenburg County Historical Society.