Mega-BBQ competition Derby Week benefits Ky Harvest

[Robin Garr]

News release:

World-Class Barbecue Teams to Compete in New Derby Week Charity Event

Kentucky Harvest is excited to announce the inaugural Run for the Ribs presented by Sysco, a barbecue competition to be held in Louisville May 6-7 at Wayside Christian Mission. The event will be the largest barbecue competition ever to take place in the state of Kentucky and has already secured multiple world-champion barbecue teams to compete for the $30,000 prize pool. In addition to the main event, pros and amateurs can also compete in the Jim Beam Invitational and Backyard Competition on Thursday, May 5, that will also feature cash and prizes for top finishers. Both events will draw world-class pitmasters who want to compete for their share of prize money as well as claim bragging rights to add to their list of culinary achievements.

The event will benefit Kentucky Harvest and Blessings in a Backpack with leftover food from the competition distributed to homeless shelters throughout Louisville. The event is free and open to the public to attend and watch the industry's top competitors do what they do best.

“We want to encourage folks to come out and bring a friend,” said event producer, Kevin Gros, “this has potential to be a great event for the community as well a marquee stop on the competitive barbecue circuit. It will provide a lot of excitement for competitors as well as those who attend the event and we are excited to have this level of participation in the first year.”

The Run for the Ribs is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), the world's largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts, who sanctions nearly 300 contests throughout America. The competitors will be judged by certified barbecue judges for barbecued chicken, ribs, pork and brisket.

The main two-day competition will be held May 6-7 and is a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned open cook-off as well as a Kentucky State Championship event. The event will be limited to 50 teams and the Grand Champion will receive $7,500 and an automatic invitation to the American Royal held annually in Kansas City. In addition, the grand champion will also have the opportunity to compete in the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational held annually in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Prize money will also be awarded for other categories and runner-up finishers.

If that isn’t enough to tempt barbecue connoisseurs, the Jim Beam Invitational and Backyard Competition will be held on Thursday, May 5 and will include ten of the country’s top pit masters and celebrity barbecue chefs including Chris Lilly, Mike Davis and local restaurant chefs. The backyard competition will host aspiring barbecue teams who will cook alongside the pros using their own smokers and equipment. The backyard competition will be limited to 20 teams.

KCBS is the most respected judging and sanctioning body in America because of its blind judging process that uses a weighted scoring index to ensure a level playing field for all competitors. The organization also trains and commissions Certified Barbecue Judges (CBJs) at classes held across the America. CBJs learn how professionals distinguish great barbecue from average fare based on three important elements: appearance, taste and texture. To learn more about KCBS, visit www.kcbs.us.

For more information about the inaugural Run for the Ribs visit www.runfortheribs.com

Steve P do you want to take this?
I don't get the timing of event myself but you should expound on this in your unique style.

[Robin Garr]

I would be interested in hearing BBQ competition geeks dissect this. Even when it's for noble beneficiaries, I'm not overly trusting of PR-speak, so it would be helpful to me to know where to be skeptical about this one.

Remember that it's for a good cause, but that doesn't bar truthful discussion about the publicity game.

Ehhhhhhh.....I'm kinda "on again-off again" about this one and unless Mr. Thomas wants to cough up half of an extremely high entry fee of $350 bucks, I'm probably going to settle in on "off again". It's bad enough that I pay $200 bucks a pop 3 or 4 times a year to have people (re)teach me the meaning of the word "respect"...but $350 (plus meat) is a little rich for my blood.

Anyway, my "take" on this is that it has a very good possibility of becoming a welcome addition to Derby festivities. The guy running it (who I've exchanged emails with but don't know personally) is a L'ville resident and a successful veteran on the BBQ circuit. The sponsorship (Sysco) appears to be solid and have deep pockets. The beneficiary (Wayside) is well respected. The site....I'm a little concerned about but primarily from a competitors perspective. Like all first year contest, there may be a few burps and belches but these things primarily affect the competitors and not so much those who might mosey through to check things out. All in all from a community point of view, I'd give this one "two thumbs up".

Otherwise, I don't think the press release was out of line. It -will- be the biggest contest in KY (this year). I've seen the entry list (to date) and there are enough of the "big guns" coming and the prize money is significant enough to call it a "marquee" event. So yeah, it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, so I'm going to assume it's a duck.

Steve P do you want to take this?
I don't get the timing of event myself but you should expound on this in your unique style.

Speaking strictly from a competitors standpoint...this one has some pros and cons. We can talk about it over some beers during the game next week. It might be a good opportunity to sneak in and pull off an upset and then again it might just be another in a long line of opportunities to get ones ass handed to them. Who knows. As it stand right now, I figure Vegas would have us going off a 350 to 1 long shot.

Who knows. As it stand right now, I figure Vegas would have us going off a 350 to 1 long shot.

Heck I've bet on longer shots than that!

Who knows. As it stand right now, I figure Vegas would have us going off a 350 to 1 long shot.

Heck I've bet on longer shots than that!

I've got it !!!....You pony up the $350 for an entry fee and we'll split our winnings with ya

I've got it !!!....You pony up the $350 for an entry fee and we'll split our winnings with ya

Well this is an easy sell! I'm good for $50.00 of that entry fee right now!

[Robin Garr]

I've got it !!!....You pony up the $350 for an entry fee and we'll split our winnings with ya

Well this is an easy sell! I'm good for $50.00 of that entry fee right now!

I'll throw $50 more on that pile!

Count us in on the entry fee. Just think of all the "help?" and cheering squad you'll have!

One other small thing to consider, there is a lot of misconception when it comes to BBQ competition.
I think many people show up not in the know and expect to sample or being able to purchase BBQ from the competitors, and then are disappointed because they can't. KCBS rules strictly forbid this as health regulations vary greatly from state to state. The proximity of the Broadway Derby cruising crowd and a major homeless shelter full of residents, both looking for handouts, may only exasperate the crowd and competitors even more.

I can add another $50 to the entry fee pot. Just tell me when and how to get it to you, Stevo.

Steve I think you can take 'um and while I'm not in a position to pony up $50 just now after the holidays I will offer any labor or help you might need.
GoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhman!!!!!

[Robin Garr]

GoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhmangoSteveyouduhman!!!!!

Steve is a mango? Who knew!