BBQ cookoff why would I attend?

We're having a competition bbq cookoff this weekend in a neighboring town. They say they will have 30-50 competitors. They say there will be vendors and entertainment  there but by reading very carefully I see no mention of being able to sample or purchase any of the competition entered food. So why would I want to go to watch others cook food that I couldn't sample?
Seriously a few years ago this is exactly what happened. Big event, decent music but no competitor food available. Only food available was from vendors where the only criteria was you were able to pay the fee.
Thoughts?

Peoria has an annual Rib Fest competition each fall with similar rules.  Among the other rules, they specify, "Selling or giving away your ribs to the general public is prohibited unless you are a registered vendor."

I have never bothered to go downtown and see it, for much the same reason as what you mentioned.  (Why try to learn their technique if you can't taste their results in order to see if you like it done that way?)

Yeah, the competitors would each have to have whatever the local equivalent is to a food vendor license.  I discovered this, to my dismay, when I went to a chili cookoff a long time ago.

At the Madison Indiana Ribberfest in August each year they have two catagories of competition. The first is the Official KC organization competition for the "Big League teams". The second is called the Backyard BBQ competition. In the second group the cost of entry is minimal for teams, and part of the criteria for participating is to make enough BBQ (pork/beef/ribs/etc) to feed a bunch of visitors. As soon as the judging of the second groups efforts are done, the public can wander the rows of booths to obtain samples of the various BBQ.  Of all the competitions we have ever attended it is the ONLY one that still has this laid-back amateur division in it's venue.
They hold it in a park next to the Ohio River, and have some good bands each year to entertain the crowd.

In Eufalla Ok the have an annual
Whole Hog" cook off--BIG weekend--lots of other stuff to do--music---a bike rally--boat rally---a HUGE poker run that you can do on a bike or a car or baot!---with BIG bucks---and--at the end of the cook off---ALL the contesteants are REQUIRED to GIVE awy the pig!!!! they hand out  an amazing amount of pullted pork sandwhiches all afternoon!!!  FREE   last year i was tee shirt vender and asw i was packing to leave one of the event folks  that knew i was going to the juke joint for a jam session gave me a shopping bag full of wrapped to go sandwiches. I LOVE that cookoff!

The annal BBQcontest held at the Ulster county, NY, fairgrounds is a sanctioned event, but most, if not all, the contestants are amateurs or , at best, semi-pro. I guess there's not enough prize money to attract the pros. There are a half dozen vendors selling BBQ and other items, but it is still possible to get some freebies at the cooking locations. 

I guess the NYState laws are in effect as to requiring a license or permit  of contestants to vend, even free, to the public, but they seem to be unenforced or laxly enforced. Some contestants don't exactly offer any freebies - they just leave pans of the stuff out on a counter with forks spoons, etc. conveniently displayed. Some contestants virtually hawk there product and are delighted to share it and talk BBQ with anyone who comes along.  

Cheers, John 

I've done Chili Cook-offs where there is a Peoples Choice award so you need to cook enough to give out samples

Sometimes it has to do with local health laws.  As a judge I have to sign an indemnity form.  If you want to try some competition food, sign up to be a judge.  You might even get a free shirt or some other gift.  For KCBS events they need at least a judge per team plus table captains plus other help.  KCBS even has classes to be a certified judge.

http://kcbs.us/classes.php

Add to the note on the Madison Ribberfest...

   This year it is the weekend of August 20-21. Admission for the two days (Friday evening and All Day Saturday) is $20 with advance purchases getting a $10 rebate in food tickets to be used at the events. Lots of music both days.  We will plan to be there Friday evening to enjoy the tasting and some music before heading home. Madison is only about 65 miles upriver for us.

I'd thought about qualifying to be a BBQ judge until i closely watched the judging for a half hour at the Ulster County event. 

The judges are overwhelmed with food.
The judges work in complete silence - no talking allowed.
The judges work on a strict  timetable - no dawdaling over a tasty morsel.
Some of the food is cold or too long on the plate before it gets to the judges.

All-in-all not a fun job, and for very little reward. I admire those who are willing to sacrifice their time and palates for our edification.

Cheers, John 

seafarer john


I'd thought about qualifying to be a BBQ judge until i closely watched the judging for a half hour at the Ulster County event. 

The judges are overwhelmed with food.
The judges work in complete silence - no talking allowed.

Go ahead, overwhelm me with food !!  I'll take that challenge head on!
BUT, don't tell me I can't TALK !!!  I am OUT !!!!
 
P.S. ......I do NOT like going to these BBQ competitions, cuz of the EXACT reason that the OP said !!
When I went to the Wildwood NJ BBQ festival a few years back, the competitors food looked delish, but we could'nt partake..
Instead, we were delegated to mostly crummy vendors , set up in trailers, with almost everything BUT BBQ....
lots of hot dogs, popcorn, Italian Ice, but not enough BBQ ....

You can actually get and eat the competitors food at this one this weekend in Prescott AZ. Just a nice drive from where you are!

www.prescottbbqdays.com 

You'll love our AZ hospitality! (If you're a Legal Citizen of the USA!)

seafarer john

The judges are overwhelmed with food.
The judges work in complete silence - no talking allowed.
The judges work on a strict  timetable - no dawdaling over a tasty morsel.
Some of the food is cold or too long on the plate before it gets to the judges.

All-in-all not a fun job, and for very little reward. I admire those who are willing to sacrifice their time and pallets for our edification.

Cheers, John 

I and most judges bring a cooler.  You can't eat everything but you do have to taste everything. 
There's lots of rules for both the judges and the teams.  There's money (sometimes a lot of money) at stake and we are obligated to be as fair and impartial as possible.
All of the teams are cooking chicken, ribs, pulled pork, brisket and possibly a 5th item so there has to be a schedule.  That's part of the challenge.
I can't say I've ever gotten a hot sample, but not cold either.

I thought this was going to be good food, adult beverages and a fun time.  Well, the adult beverages are out  at least until judging is over. Along with the samples we only have water and unsalted saltines.  My son, my brother and I are all judges and last year we did the Vermont competition at the Harpoon Brewery.  That was FUN.

Just to show you how serious KCBS is, we all take an oath before every event.

http://kcbs.us/oath.php

Now I doubly admire the judges. Not only are they defending the good name of BBQ, they are charged with protecting the American way of life. Awesome!

BTW: I also learned from reading the oath how to distinguish between that part of my mouth and the wooden object on which cargo is packed.

Cheers, John 

ces1948


We're having a competition bbq cookoff this weekend in a neighboring town. They say they will have 30-50 competitors. They say there will be vendors and entertainment  there but by reading very carefully I see no mention of being able to sample or purchase any of the competition entered food. So why would I want to go to watch others cook food that I couldn't sample?
Seriously a few years ago this is exactly what happened. Big event, decent music but no competitor food available. Only food available was from vendors where the only criteria was you were able to pay the fee.
Thoughts?

This isn't unusual, for the reasons other mention.  I usually skip out on the local BBQ fest here, since actual bbq made by anyone other than the "slap some Sysco BBQ sauce on some chopped pork" vendors is pretty hard to find. The actual competitors usually don't have food for sale or sample.

Here in Cleveland, we have Rib Cookoffs all summer, starting with two competing events on Memorial Day weekend. Some are national, some are regional, some are local, but they all sell their product. We used to be OK with going to the biggies, but they started charging admission and parking, and the prices went up from $1 a bone to $2 a bone. The last time we went, 3 years ago, we spent $40 in a half-hour, and ate only 3 1-bone samples between the two of us.
Not worth it, even if they bring in "free" musical attractions.

seafarer john


Now I doubly admire the judges. Not only are they defending the good name of BBQ, they are charged with protecting the American way of life. Awesome!

BTW: I also learned from reading the oath how to distinguish between that part of my mouth and the wooden object on which cargo is packed.

Cheers, John 

Too funny John! We'll be judging at the Hudson Valley Ribfest on August 22nd.  There are many KCBS sanctioned events.  It's interesting to see a map I put together for the KCBS of events scheduled as of 4/20/10, here's a link.

http://www.batchgeo.com/m...8b6f46625ba2d95b50985c