BBQ Competition draws grillers from across the states and beyond

By Anne Eickstadt

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO Belvidere Republican
Steaks are brought to the judges’ in containers provided for them. The judges do look for those beautiful grill marks as well as the color and the flavors of the cooked meat.

EDITOR

The Boone County Fairgrounds was the location for deliciousness over the June 21 to 23 Heritage Days. It was the host for the Steak, Dessert, and Wings Cook-Off competition on Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday, the cooks fired up their grills for chicken, pork ribs, pork, brisket, and hamburger.

“We tried to figure out what we could do for Heritage Days that was new and different,” said Danny Anderson, Public Works superintendent. “The mayor thought of a barbeque contest and the first year we had 30 competitors.”

“It’s amazing,” says Mayor Mike Chamberlain of the cook-off events. “Every year it gets bigger. They love the fairgrounds. They love to come to Boone County.”

The Steak Cook-Off Association sanctioned the Friday night steak cook-off and the Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned the Saturday and Sunday grilling. These associations ensure standardized rules and judging, and competitors know they will have a fair competition.

42 teams entered the Steak Cook-off Competition in Boone County this year. Ancillary dishes had five teams enter the dessert competition, and 12 teams joined in the Anything-on-a-Stick contest. The steak competition has SCA trained judges to rate each steak by appearance, presentation, and taste. Ancillary dishes may be rated by first-time judges.

Leanna Pikturna of Wrightstown, Wis. and her husband have been competing with the Steak Cook-Off Association for eight years and are three time Grand Masters. “How did we get into this? My husband had a friend who took a BBQ class at the Fox Valley Technical College and he (my husband) wanted to do a contest. After one competition, he was hooked. We do about 15 contests a year. It’s fun. You become…

For complete article, pick up the June 27 Belvidere Republican.