Category: KCBS Sanctioned Event

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Heritage Days BBQ Showdown – Belvidere, IL June June 22 – 24

The 2018 Heritage Days BBQ Showdown 2-day competition brought out the best in professional BBQ! On Day 1 fifty-one Competition BBQ Teams convened upon the Boone County Fairgrounds in Belvidere, Il, a superb venue for a BBQ comp! At least six of those teams are the top professional teams in the US, vying for KCBS Team of the Year.  To keep up with KCBS Team of the Year standings click here.

A Scottish Heavy Olympics Tournament participant.

Event organizers Danny & Chris along with their team held a terrific event that was welcoming and supportive of the needs of professional BBQ’rs and judges alike! And where else can one go to a BBQ competition and witness authentic Celtic games with The Scottish Heavy Olympics Tournament?! It was complete with kilts, sheaf tossing (using a pitchfork!), caber toss (log flipping), hammer throw and more. You can learn more about the sport in this article. For us regular folks who are not into heavy duty weight training, there was a Bags Tournament.

 

Day 1

After the threat of rain subsided on Saturday, the stars came out, that’s BBQ stars, with Shake ‘N Bake taking Grand Champion scoring 693.1, followed by Rod Gray’s Pellet Envy for Reserve Champion with a 692.0.  Dirt Road was third overall for the second week in a row!

Pellet Envy Reserve Champion, Day 1.
Shake N’ Bake, Grand Champion Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2

Hats off to the forty-four BBQ teams competing on Sunday, Day 2.  As a pro BBQ cook I’ve never done a double competition, nor have I as a judge. As a judge it was challenging so I can only imagine what it was like for the cook teams! That said experienced pros know how to compete as evidenced by Gettin’ Basted taking home the Grand Champion award with a 691.9 score followed by Reserve Champion ONE2BBQ with a 688.5.  Midnight Burn, all the way from North Carolina, was third overall.

Gettin’ Basted, Grand Champion, Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2.
One2BBQ, Reserve Champion Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times teams set up next to each other, it’s more fun that way! Smoke Freaks and Stress Relief BBQ teams.

 

The close bond that Competition BBQ teams share was evident at this event. Even though teams are there to compete, they are very supportive of one another. Friday night’s mood was fun and lively with teams greeting each other, enjoying libations and music together. During Saturday’s competition, it was all business as they cooked, but words of ‘good luck’ to each other and pats on the back were everywhere. The Awards Presentations was upbeat with big rounds of applause, hoots, and hollers for each team that got a call (placed in the top ten of each category). Saturday night it was time to relax and share a meal with each other, with teams contributing to the potluck table. Now that’s what makes bbq competition fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times teams set up next to each other, it’s more fun that way! Smoke Freaks and Stress Relief BBQ teams.

 

 

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Central Plains Ribfest – Holdrege, NE June 15 & 16

Heading East from Rocky Mountain National Park en route to Holdrege, NE one notices the change in terrain from mountains, to rolling hills, then to the lush green farmland of Nebraska. This town with a population of 5,500 folks hosted the Central Plains Ribfest in conjunction with Swedish Days which brought competitors from six states.

2018 Central Plains Ribfest, Holdrege, NE.
Local High School Student rides his Unicycle in the Centra Plains Ribfest parade.

A busy weekend with a Steak Association Cookoff  (SCA) steak cook-off, a parade, classic car show, People’s Choice BBQ contest, and a sauce competition. Holdrege is small town America with a big heart and why we love traveling for BBQ competitions.

2018 Central Plains Ribfest, Holdrege, NE.
Parade in Holdrege, NE before the Central Plains Ribfest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smokin K – NE took home Grand Champion honors with a 695.4 score and Butcher BBQ earning the Reserve Grand Champion with a 694.8.  Dirt Road BBQ was third overall. Both Butcher BBQ and Dirt Road BBQ are in the top ten ranking for KCBS Team of the Year! The Holdrege Chamber of Commerce did a terrific job hosting the Ribfest. We enjoyed meeting the cooks, judges, and folks on the street, they were all so welcoming!