Annual Ag Roundup draws hungry crowds

Many Auburn faithful took a break from their normal tailgate routine on Saturday and made their way to the 30th Annual Auburn University Ag Roundup and Taste of Auburn to experience Alabama-grown food.
More than 1,500 people showed up to the event where more than 45 vendors served food. Patrons paid $5 to get in the door.
“For your $5 you get a big bang,” said Robert Hensarling, director of Agricultural Land and Resource Management at Ag Heritage Park. After $5, it’s all you can eat.
The selection of food was vast, ranging from goat sausage to Blue Bell Ice Cream. The entrance fee supports the AU Agriculture Alumni Association.
There were also silent and live auctions with the money raised going to support a scholarship program for Agriculture students. Usually, the event raises between $12,000 and $15,000, Hensarling said.
Pam Dempsey attended the event with her family.
“This is probably our fourth or fifth year (attending),” she said. “Just the food, the atmosphere and the people (keep bringing us back).
“It’s a toss up between the fish and the corn dogs,” she said.
Sam Abney, a committee member of Alabama Meat, Goat and Sheep Producers, was serving goat sausage, goat Brunswick stew and goat jerky to patrons.
He said they had handed out about 500 pieces of goat jerky. “We ran out,” he said.
Helen Jones was also handing out goat on Saturday. “We can’t even get the tooth picks fast enough,” Jones said.