Friends of the Libraries Annual Luncheon
February 26, 2025
The Friends of the Wright State University Libraries present:
From the Stacks to the Smoke: How Libraries Ignite BBQ Success
Featuring
Erica Blaire Roby
WSU Alumna, Attorney, and Award-Winning BBQ Pitmaster
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wright State Nutter Center Berry Room
You’re invited to join us at the annual Friends of the Libraries luncheon as Erica Blaire Roby shares how the power of libraries can transform your BBQ journey, offering invaluable resources to sharpen your skills and spark creativity. This talk will explore how the wealth of knowledge available in libraries can turn a passion for BBQ into a thriving career.
Erica is one of the country’s leading female pitmasters, an award-winning artist in the field of barbecue. However, being an acclaimed pitmaster is only one of her many accomplishments: Erica is also an attorney, a level-2 Certified Sommelier, United States Navy wife, and a mother. Yet with all the paths that she has walked on her journey so far, food has always been the through-line uniting them all.
In 2021, Erica became a contestant on Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl,” becoming the Season 2 winner and earning the mantle “Master of ‘Cue.” After “BBQ Brawl,” Erica decided to document the world of barbecue in her award-winning digital series, "The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire." Traveling the country in her RV, Erica interviews notable food personalities and highlights the passion, struggles, and dreams of pitmasters around America. In May 2022, Erica also competed at the world-famous Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. Though it was only her second time as a competitor at this prestigious event, remarkably, she tied for 1st place in brisket and 4th in the rib division, a journey that was filmed for Food Network’s “BBQ USA”.
In 2023, Blue Smoke Blaire's Barbecue Academy opened its doors to teach the new generation of pitmasters the art of BBQ at her ranch in Houston, Texas. Erica continues to compete in BBQ and in 2024 became the first winner of the South x Southwest BBQ Championship in Austin, Texas. Erica is also a spokesperson for The National Cattleman’s Association and Pit Boss Grills.
Erica's commitment to spreading love through barbecue has seen her travel with Operation BBQ Relief to provide meals to those in need after natural disasters. She is also a guest lecturer inspiring young people to pick up tongs and find joy through food and culinary passion.
A lunch buffet will be provided, which includes Italian garden salad with Italian vinaigrette and ranch dressings, chicken piccata, vegetarian stuffed peppers, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetable blend, assorted breads, variety of desserts, and iced tea, regular and decaf coffee.
Registration is required for this event and must be completed by April 9, 2025. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Libraries. If you need accommodations for this event, please call (937) 775-2380 five business days in advance.