I'll be in my 2nd contest this fall. It is one of the largest amat contests in the US. Continental championship. Don't expect to knock them dead or anything...but a great place to start and meet a lot of big guys and gals.
The only gym around here is the YMCA. They have nothing that I need to train with. I use thick bars, farmer's walks, 700+lb tire, truck pull, sled pull, log, etc... I was going to a good friend of mine's gym an hour away on the weekends to do all of the events. He passed away a few weeks ago and his wife is selling everything. I also prefer to train at home.
B True