BBQ TEAMS
We Are Coming
Competition Teams Entry Information
There are two divisions with 12 total prizes (eight in Semi-Pro and four in Backyard), plus a school
division that will be judged separately. Teams will enter either as a “Semi-Pro” Team or as a
“Backyard” Team and will automatically be entered into the People’s Choice competition for their
division. The contest will be capped at 20 total teams combined. The goal is to have 12 semi-pro
teams and 8 backyard teams - this could fluctuate.
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Entry Fees
Each team will pay the entry fee for their division and agree to produce no less than the minimum
amount of food recommended under the “Sample Meat Requirement Section”.
Semi-Pro Teams: $150 – standard entry or $250 (** including food sales)
Backyard Teams: $100 - standard entry or $200 (** including food sales)
Non-Competing Food Vendor: $150 (*** see notes below) – message us for approval
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** BBQ teams will be permitted to sell “Ready to Eat” food items for an additional $100, only if you
already possess a food service license and meet minimum food safety regulations. Teams will be
solely responsible for meeting all local and state guidelines for food service and sales, including
collecting any applicable sales taxes. See the “Team Setup” section for more details on tables.
*** If a food vendor wishes to participate in the festival, not as a competitor, but only to provide ready
to eat food samples to event attendees at no charge, we have a limited number of spaces that can be
made available. The food vendor must meet all local and state food safety guidelines for their
products and must message us for approval to be a “Non-Competing Food Vendor”.
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Teams must submit the accompanying entry form, along with their entry fee, to be considered for a
spot at the event. Entries will be considered by the event organizers and awarded based on timing
of submission and other criteria. If all slots fill or a team is not awarded a spot for any reason, their
entry fee will be returned along with an explanation.
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PAYMENTS: Please see the entry form for payment options that include Online pay via Donate
button on The Empowered Kitchen website (PayPal) and options to print and mail your entry form.
Meat Requirements for Judging and People’s Choice
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1st , 2nd and 3rd places in each division is decided by our panel of guest and dignitary judges.
People’s Choice is solely based on the samples offered to event attendees.
Semi-Pro teams can compete on protein #1 (brisket), protein #2 (chicken wings), or both. The Semi-Pro Grand Champion
will be decided by the combined total of judging points for Protein 1 and 2. Samples to the public for
Public’s Choice voting can be your entry items or your choice of Pork, Turkey, Beef or Sausage.
Backyard Teams choose which protein they want to compete in, or have the option to only compete
for People’s Choice, but then would only be eligible for the People’s Choice prize.
Minimum cook weights apply to People’s Choice – see the section below on “Sample Meat Requirements”
- Protein 1 – Whole Beef Packer Brisket (brisket must be presented for judging as slices)
- Protein 2 – Chicken Wings (wing is defined as either piece of the wing - drums or flats)
Refer to the following “judging” section for more details on presentation and scoring. People’s
choice will be decided by the vote of the attendees who will place a voting “token” in the bucket for
a team of their choice.
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Prizes:
Semi-Pro
Main (Brisket) Secondary (Wings)
1st Place - $1000 - trophy 1st Place - $750 - trophy
2nd Place - $500 2nd Place - $375
3rd Place - $250 3rd Place - $185
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Backyard
1st Place - $550 - trophy
2nd Place - $350 - trophy
3rd Place - $150 – trophy
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People’s Choice - $350 - trophy People’s Choice - $300 - trophy
Overall Semi - Pro Grand Champion - trophy