84 Lumber Bean-Eating Contest

The honor of the Carolinas will rest on the shoulders of local resident Charles Bullard at the 84 Lumber Company World Baked Bean-Eating Championship in Summerville, SC, at the opening of a new 84 Lumber outlet at 2520 W. Fifth Street on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at 1 pm.

Bullard, a resident of North Charleston, will face off against champion eater Ed ‘Cookie’ Jarvis of New York, Dale Boone of Atlanta, GA, and Don Schaeffer of Little River, NC. Bullard’s work will be cut out for him.

Cookie brings an impressive pedigree to the table, currently holding no fewer than 12 world titles. His records include 1 gallon, nine ounces of ice cream in 12 minutes, 33 ½ ears of sweet corn in 12 minutes, and 4.65 lbs of rib meat in 12 minutes.

The Summerville event is the first of six 84 Lumber baked bean-eating contests that will stop in six states throughout the United States. The contests will determine who can eat 84 ounces of baked beans in the shortest period of time. A total of $2,000.00 in prize money will be on the line at each contest: $1,000.00 for first place; $750.00 for second place; $250.00 for third place.

The gurgitator with the fastest time at the circuit's conclusion will receive the ultra prestigious crown of World Baked Bean-Eating Champion, as well as possession of the coveted Baked Bean Crock, the world cup of competitive baked bean eating.

Founded by Joe Hardy in 1956 in the town of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, where the original store continues to operate, 84 Lumber Company is the largest privately held building materials supplier in the country. Today 84 Lumber Company operates more than 470 stores and 14 component manufacturing plants from coast to coast. With more than 7,500 associates nationwide 84 Lumber Company provides professional contractors, remodelers and serious do-it-yourselfers with quality building materials, supplies and expertise. For more information on 84 Lumber Company please visit www.84lumber.com.

This is an IFOCE event and the IFOCE will handle all registration. Those interested in competing who are 18 years of age and older can email beans@ifoce.com or call (212) 627-5766 to register.