Remote Surveillance Trailer in Pendleton, OR

Deadline to enter is Aug. 16 for the event a week later, and space is limited to 10 contestants per category

PENDLETON — With mouths stretching, condiments pouring and chunks of buns falling, the Hot Dog Eating Contest showdown returns to Pendleton — and the reigning champ is hungry for another win.

Pendleton Underground Tours, A Piece of Pendleton and Hill Meat Co. present the summer chow down Aug. 23, at 5 p.m. in the 300 block of South Main Street.

Molly Schuyler, of Maryland, Scott Watkins, of British Columbia, and defending champion Dan Kennedy, of Pennsylvania, headline the professional division at this year’s contest. All three aim to devour as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes.

Kennedy returns after claiming last year’s title with 45 hot dogs downed within the time limit.

In the amateur division, Pendleton’s John Schmidt will defend his 2024 title. Schmidt secured last year’s win with 14 hot dogs and could earn a seat at the professional table in 2026 with a second victory.

Competitive eaters will battle for a share of $5,000 in cash prizes at this year’s hot dog eating contest, featuring two divisions: semi-pro/pro and amateur.

The semi-pro/pro category offers a $2,500 first-place prize, while the top amateur will take home $600. Second- and third-place finishers in both categories also receive cash prizes.

Amateurs must have competed in fewer than three eating contests and participated for fun. Semi-pro/pro entrants must have competed in five or more contests and compete for prize money.

The contest operates on the honor system, but organizers will verify competitor backgrounds.

Sheri Towers, manager of A Piece of Pendleton, said the Sprite Burp Chug Contest and the Brain Freeze Competition — a yogurt-eating challenge for children ages 8 to 12 — will take place before the main eating competition begins.

“It’s fun, it’s different,” Towers said. “We’ve never really had events like this in Pendleton, so it’s nice to keep doing something new. I think anyone who comes will be entertained. Just maybe stand toward the back if you’re squeamish — don’t get too close.”

The event will close the third block of South Main Street to make room for food trucks, a bar trailer serving alcoholic slushies, a mechanical bucking pig, an axe-throwing station and live music.

Towers said the event is another way organizers help promote downtown and draw people to the area.

The event culminates in an award ceremony with trophies, medals and the cash prizes.

Community members interested in the third annual Hot Dog Eating Contest can sign up online at A Piece of Pendleton’s website, in person at 369 S. Main St. or by calling 541-379-1215.

Towers said the event needs volunteers to help behind the scenes with tasks such as providing hot dogs and drinks. Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the same contact information.

Entry fees are $20 for semi-pro and pro categories, and $10 for amateurs. All participants must be 18 or older. The entry deadline is Saturday, Aug. 16, with space limited to 10 contestants per category. A minimum of five entrants per category is required for the contest to proceed. If the event is canceled, entry fees will be refunded.

To keep up with event updates, follow the competition on Facebook and Instagram.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel discusses the Vols' ongoing battle for the starting center spot as the team continues to move closer to

Tennessee might have announced its starting quarterback Sunday night ahead of the Vols' Aug. 30 season opener against Syracuse, but they have at least one spot in their lineup that's officially still up for grabs. They're not ready to name a starting center.

While the rest of Tennessee's revamped offensive line seems to have taken shape, coach Josh Heupel said Tuesday that there's "still competition" at center between Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton and redshirt freshman William Satterwhite. According to sources, Pendleton received most of the work with the first-team offense Friday during the Vols' second preseason scrimmage, which was closed to media.

"Both of those guys have competed really well, grown here during the course of our practices," Heupel said of Pendleton and Satterwhite after Tennessee's practice Tuesday morning. "(There is) still competition. Going to need both of them as we get to the fall."

Cooper Mays started at center throughout Heupel's first four years with the Vols. Mays made a combined 43 starts over the past four years and was an All-SEC selection last year, leaving Tennessee with big shoes to fill going into this season.

Two weeks ago, Vols offensive line coach Glen Elarbee said the challenges Satterwhite was facing at the center position were "not anything that crazy different" from what Pendleton needed to do.

"First thing, we've got to be able to ID everything, and (he) does a great job of that," Elarbee said of Satterwhite at the time. "Then, we've got to be able to get the ball to the quarterback so he can function. Still cleaning some of that up. Then, after that, he's always never played with an ounce of fear. He throws his body around. He plays physical to get everything out of it.

"He's got to continue to build his body, be able to handle the stress of the season. But the same things he has to go do are the same things Sam has to go do, right?"

Pendleton split his reps between right guard and center during the spring after transferring to Tennessee. But he shifted more of his focus to the center spot in preseason camp as the Vols looked to find their heir to the often-irreplaceable Mays.

He said last week that the biggest adjustment of his move to center at Tennessee has been adapting to the tempo at which the Vols play. He also stressed the importance of "staying calm and collected" while communicating calls and identifying fronts for the rest of the offensive line in noisy stadiums.

"Definitely, the tempo plays a big role in playing center here in everything," Pendleton said. "You're chasing the ball, making sure you're snapping down, making sure we're keeping everything the way it should be, the way the coaches want it to be. It's definitely a challenge, but something that I've grown to like, grown to get comfortable with and still something I'm working on, for sure."