‘BBQ gives me life’: Dunbar man to compete on ‘Rooster & Butch’ on A&E

A dream is on its way to becoming a reality for Dunbar chef Curt Sheard.

Sheard, CEO and founder of Big Boi’s Barbecue, was selected as a contestant on “Rooster & Butch” on A&E. The winner of a $1 million prize will be chosen Wednesday night.

“It’s everything to me. It’s become, as I call it, my retirement in a bottle,” Sheard said.

Sheard has been perfecting his barbecue sauce since 1996, selling it to neighbors and eventually Walmart.

Previous story: Saucy Success: Dunbar man gets deal with Wal-Mart

“When I was selling barbecue in front of my mom’s house, they bought sauce sandwiches with four slices of bread and a cup of barbecue sauce and I sold it for six bucks, so I knew I had something,” Sheard said.

If Sheard wins, he plans to manufacture the product locally and bring jobs to Fort Myers.

“For me, it’s always about giving back,” Sheard said. “It’s always about taking care of the community and I’m just fortunate to be in the opportunity to hopefully make this come to pass.”

Investors on “Rooster & Butch” will select a winner at 10 p.m. Wednesday.