By the time you read this column, I will be knee-deep in barbecue. Yesterday and today, my team members, Dan and Wendy, my wife, Tiffany, and myself began one of the dear things in life we love to do — barbecue.

We are competing in the sixth annual Sucarnochee BBQ and Blues Cookoff in Livingston, sponsored by the University of West Alabama.

We will compete in all four categories: chicken, ribs, pork and brisket. Tiffany will also compete in the sauce category. She will be making her dad’s barbecue sauce. This is a first for her, so hopefully, everything will go as planned.

This morning, the Surcarnochee Folklife Festival began downtown at 8 a.m. with the Surcarnochee 5K run and will end this evening with a walking ghost tour of Livingston. The family-friendly festival showcases some of the Black Belt’s best musicians, artists, storytellers and cornbread chefs.

The day is packed with a variety of activities situated around the Courthouse Square.

The Cornbread Cookoff is one of the intresting things for all ages to wow the judges in three cornbread categories.

I’m sure that if Tiffany would have thought about it, she would have competed in the cornbread competition as well.

Gospel, country and bluegrass musicians will be on stage throughout the day, with singer-songwriger Austin Cunningham headlining the event.

Artisans from around the region will create a variety of folk crafts including handmade baskets, wire art jewelry, metal works and wood carvings and pottery.

There will be plenty of things to do this weekend and of course, plenty of barbecue to eat.

I encourage all of you to come out today and attend the Sucarnoochee Folklife Festival. When you’re there, swing by our tent and pull up a chair. We will have plenty of leftovers to share after turn in.

But watch out — when we get ready to turn our entries in to the judges, things can get a little hetic. Tiffany will be the first to tell you to move if you get in her way to the judges.

Come on over today and see us. We’re Loose Cannon BBQ, and we’ll be a looking for you.