By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

June 8, 2006 - Every year hamburger and cooking enthusiasts visit Athens, in Henderson County, to take part in some good food and a little entertainment.

It’s all part of Uncle Fletch’s Hamburger and Bar-B-Q Cook-Off. The event is named after Fletcher Davis. Davis came to Texas from Missouri in the 1880s. According to author Frank X. Tolbert , Davis not only worked as a potter, but took on several odd jobs and eventually opened a lunch counter in Athens. It was after that when he traveled to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis and began selling what would eventually be called the hamburger. Davis’ special sandwich was ground beef served on fresh slices of bread with ground mustard and mayonnaise, topped off with a slice of onion and cucumber pickles.

While other individuals and groups have claimed to have “invented” the hamburger, most sources agree that Davis created the sandwich and that Athens was its home. 

So, it is in Athens every year where hundreds of local enthusiasts gather to celebrate the sandwich native to Texas. The bulk of this year’s festivities will take place on June 9-10 during the cook-off. Participants will compete in not only hamburger but also chicken, pork spare ribs and a brisket cooking competition.

Michael Neill, one of the event’s coordinators, said he expected about 20 teams both locally and regionally to compete. “It’s probably going to be half and half,” he said. The event benefits the Trinity Valley Community College Foundation, so he said many “local teams are out there to support the community.”

Unlike some years in the past, prizes will be awarded to the winners in each group.

“We are doing cash prizes and some really neat homemade trophies,” said Neill.

There is also another new attraction this year.

“This is the first time we have tried the ‘Battle of the Bands,’” noted Neill. He said event coordinators wanted to give bands, especially local groups, an opportunity to share their sounds with neighbors.

The battle of the bands competition is scheduled for Saturday, but Neill said the length of the competition was tentative and based on how many bands sign up to compete.

“It has the potential to be all day long,” he explained, but said if only a few bands competed he figured they would all perform in the early evening. The winner of that competition also receives a prize.

In addition to celebrating the hamburger, Neill said those in attendance will also have the chance to sink their teeth into some.

With the event ticket comes a voucher for a hamburger, chips, and drink from the hospitality booth. But, it doesn’t end there. Neill said guests are invited to sample what contestants are cooking and “all of the cooking teams are encouraged to share with the public.”

He said visitors should take the initiative to spark up a conversation with cooking contestants and ask if they have something to be sampled. 

“The cook-off teams are generally real friendly,” Neill said. In addition, he said many of the contestants are local business owners and cooks who enjoy connecting with their customers.

Neill believes the event will be very successful and has plenty to offer those who attend.

“It’s good fun and it should be good entertainment.”

For more information about Uncle Fletch’s Hamburger and Bar B-Q Cook-Off, visit www.originalburger.com or AthensTx.org.