Barbecue Contest Season

The Kansas City Barbeque Society contest season has finally begun in earnest in the North East. I know it's hard for some cooks in the South to understand, but here in Yankee territory we have a really short contest season of May to September.

So far this season, KCBS has held Bristol on the River. The New England Barbecue Society has already held the Snowshoe Challenge, Grillin' on the Bay, the Rhode Island State BBQ Contest, and the Rock n' Ribfest New Hampshire State Barbeque Championship.

All I've done so far this year is to judge at the Snowshoe Challenge with Smoker and Millitant Squatter; and with Matt - The Hampton Smoker, organize Grillin' on the Bay.

I'm getting itchy, but the money is tight this year, so it's going to be a reduced contest schedule.

Here's what I have planned so far:

Guitarbeque - New Jersey State Championship - July 8th and 9th as a judge.
Grill Kings - New York State Championship - July 15th and 16th with the BBQ-Brethren.
Hudson Valley Rib Festival - New York State Championship - August 19th and 20th with a new, as of yet unnamed team.
New Holland Summer Fest - Pennsylvania State Championship - August 25th and 26th with the BBQ-Brethren.

A few other contests that are still be considered are:
Ribs N' Brews Festival - Massachusetts State Championship - September 9th and 10th.
Oinktoberfest - New York State Championship - September 29th and 30th.
Cape Cod Classic BBQ Cookoff - September 30th and October 1st. The team has yetl to be determined for these additional events.

Of course after that, it's the American Royal Invitational and The Jack Daniel's Invitational BBQ Contest. Hey, a guy can dream can't he?

Photos of turn in boxes used in today's post are courtesy of Lost Nation Smoke Company. Rich Decker's amazing team submitted these entries at this year's NEB's sanctioned Rock n' Ribfest New Hampshire State Barbeque Championship.

The pictures represent the four food categories that must be submitted in a KCBS sanctioned event. From the top down, chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder and beef brisket. Everything looks great Rich!