Carson "Collard Green" Hughes

To understand the "Collard" you must understand his history.  The "Collard" grew up in the best training ground available - Erwin Tenn.  Imagine, fresh biscuts and gravy, fresh vegetables, spring water, lots of music, mountains and of course, greens.  He is very close to the "Valley Beautiful" for these memories.

Everyone around couldn't believe the fierceness of "Collard's" appetite.  He never ate the last bite or the last serving - this is why he dislikes the word "glutton."  He is a competitive eater.  A man of challenge, goals, inspirations and dreams.  A real athlete in the sport of competitive eating.

The name came about one day after Tereasa's mother, "Grandma Stein," called to encourage Carson to enter a local Collard Green competition.  She knew he could eat the healthy plate full of greens and eat them fast because every year when she made a big pot - Carson would scarf them down - not leaving any for the kids to argue over.  Not that the kids liked greens.  Grandma Stein loved to watch Carson eat those collards.

After entering and winning the contest, with 2.5 pounds of collards downed in 17.5 seconds,  Carson looked forward to next years competition.

Finding competition fun he entered the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating competition sanctioned by the I.F.O.C.E at MacArthurs Center Mall.  16 hot dogs and 12 minutes later he found himself a champion.  

"Wow!  I can do this," Carson said.   Now he knew that everyone had a name and he needed to think of a persona for himself.  Thinking back to that first competition he remembered the fellow sitting beside him hollar out, "go Collard Green."  That would be his new name.

Since that memorial occasion "Collard Green" has been known in the eating circuit only as the man who loves to eat collards....none other than the true green machine.