Clemson's Andre Branch at Sam's Club Saturday

The heat of summer is intensifying, just as the smell of BBQ sizzles on the grill.  From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 13, members and guests will sample mouth-watering barbecue and meet former Clemson football star Andre Branch at the new Easley Sam’s Club at 309 Rolling Hills Circle in Easley Town Center.

Come out and enjoy championship pulled pork and brisket, served fresh by Pit Master Jack Waiboer of the Carolina Pit Masters Barbecue Cooking School. Waiboer, a competitor on the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour, is a 10-time Grand Champion Pit Master, co-host for GrateTV, and co-founder of the Southern Barbecue Network and Carolina Pit Masters Barbecue Cooking School. He is also a member of Mike’s Catering Team, winner of the National Best of Best the Whole Hog contest in 2011. 

Waiboer is not the only reason to head to Sam’s Club. Andre Branch, a former standout defensive end at Clemson University and second-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, will make an appearance from noon to 2 p.m. As a senior at Clemson in 2011, Branch was first team All-ACC and a consensus All-American after recording 77 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

“Superior meats and quality ingredients make Sam’s Club the perfect fit to enhance and support the sport of competitive barbecue across the nation,” said KCBS Executive Director Carolyn Wells. “Sam’s Club has been an incredible addition to our barbecue family.”  

“What’s more American than barbecue and football?” said Club Manager Brandon Cox. “Andre Branch continues to make this state proud and so will the Carolina Pit Masters Barbecue Cooking School, as it gives everyone a taste of championship-level barbecue.”

Sam’s Club knows quality meat, having served as the official supplier of the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), the world’s largest barbecue sanctioning body, since 2010. KCBS is also the host of the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour, the largest competitive barbecue tour on the circuit, with more than 30 competitions held across the nation.