68 years of Farm City BBQ
Melissa Blazier among the local celebrity servers at Farm City BBQ. -COURTESY PHOTO
Collier County has a long-standing tradition—68 years – of getting people together the day before Thanksgiving at the Farm City BBQ. The event began when area businesses chose to reach out to farmers after a poor harvest by hosting a big meal. The next year, the farmers returned the favor to the business community. Over time, elected officials, business leaders, farmers and their neighbors continue gathering for the annual event. Elected officials and well-known community leaders serve guests in a casual setting for the afternoon.
Melissa Blazier helping hand out food at Farm City BBQ. -COURTESY PHOTO
Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier is one of those local celebrity servers. She’s familiar with hospitality, having worked in her family’s restaurant, Kelly’s Fishhouse, long before her current role.
When it comes to Blazier’s Thanksgiving traditions, Farm City BBQ is most definitely one of them, she said.
“Farm City BBQ is Thanksgiving with my much larger Collier County family, which includes friends, fellow Kiwanians and Key Clubbers; Leadership Collier classmates; and just about every influencer in our community. It’s an amazing day where we get to be surrounded by amazing people who make Collier County the most incredible place to live,” Blazier said.
“Farm City is my holiday season kickoff event and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Closer to home, her family traditions, like many families, revolve around food, Blazier added.
“Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without my mom’s fabulous caviar dip, grilled oysters with cowboy butter and of course mom’s homemade apple and pumpkin pies.”
Originally written by Roger Williams for Florida Weekly in November 2025. You can read the original article HERE
