Johnsonville Announces 2006 Brat-Eating Contest to Air on ESPN

Johnsonville Announces 2006 Brat-Eating Contest to Air on ESPN

Takeru Kobayashi to Compete in Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship on National Television

JOHNSONVILLE, Wis., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sheboygan Jaycees and Johnsonville Sausage announced today ESPN, the top-rated cable sports network, will air a 60-minute special on Johnsonville Brat Days. The program will culminate with the broadcast of the 2006 Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship on August 5, 2006, at 3 p.m. CDT. The Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship is one of the main highlights of the annual Johnsonville Brat Days, to be held at Kiwanis Park, August 3-5, 2006, in Sheboygan, Wisc.

The Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship, a sanctioned competition conducted by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, will feature top-ranked competitive eaters from around the world, including the top three eaters in the world: Takeru Kobayashi, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas and rookie sensation, Joey Chestnut. The professional eaters will compete for more than $23,000 in prizes. In addition to the world championship, a competition will feature Wisconsin's best brat-eaters as they put away brats for pride, glory and the $2,000 top prize.

The 99-pound Sonya Thomas of Alexandria, Va., holds the brat-eating world record, consuming 35 bratwurst in 10 minutes in 2005. She captured the title and a $4,000 first prize in the inaugural Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship.

"Last year the big taste of Johnsonville Brats proved more of a challenge than the traditional hot dog for our eaters. They found they could only put away 2/3 as many brats as hot dogs," said George Shea, Chairman, International Federation of Competitive Eating. "This year with the addition of Kobayashi, all three of the world super powers will be eating in Sheboygan. We're expecting quite the showdown in Sheboygan as Sonya Thomas defends her crown against the top-ranked Kobayashi."

With increased prestige and attention for this year's brat-eating contest, professional eaters first had to prove their eating prowess. Ranked eaters from around the world gathered on Saturday, June 17, at Milwaukee Harley- Davidson to qualify for a place at the table in Sheboygan. Tim "Eater X" Janus ate 27 Johnsonville Brats to earn the top qualifying spot in the Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship, on August 5.

The first Brat Days festival was held in 1953 and has since provided brat lovers from all over the country with a one-of-a-kind brat experience. Brat Days is also the largest fundraiser for the Sheboygan Jaycees, having raised more than $150,000 over the last 10 years. Proceeds from the festival are returned to the community through organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Sheboygan Recreation Department and Above and Beyond Children's Museum. This year's fair will offer fun family attractions including amusement rides, a mechanical bull and a rock climbing wall. Also, for families with younger children, Brat Days will feature a family area with pony rides, three-story slide, galaxy explorer and a moon bouncer. Visitors can also see Johnsonville's Big Taste Grill, the largest mobile grill and serving Johnsonville Brats during the festival. Additionally, this year's festivities will feature live music entertainment from various artists, including the world-renowned Violent Femmes!

About Johnsonville Sausage

Wisconsin-based Johnsonville Sausage is the number one national brand of brats, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links and fresh breakfast sausage links. Johnsonville Sausage products are available in 39 countries including France, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, China and the United States. Johnsonville employs 1,000 members. Each of them takes ownership of product quality to ensure the excellence and "Big Taste" of Johnsonville Sausage. Founded in 1945 by Ralph F. & Alice Stayer, the company remains privately owned today.

About International Federation of Competitive Eating

The International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), the governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 70 events annually, including the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 3,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.

Source: Johnsonville Brats

CONTACT: Andy Gerlt for Johnsonville Brats, +1-312-397-6012, or
+1-773-520-0639 (Cell), or andy.gerlt@ogilvypr.com

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