Though the fall chill is gradually sweeping across Southeast Ohio, the 15th Annual Smoked Meat and Barbecue Festival is sure to heat things up this weekend.
Thirty teams throughout Ohio and the surrounding region will compete in a barbecue cook-off at Nelsonville Public Square with $10,000 in prize money at stake.
Qualified barbecue judges will travel from the East Coast to partake in the competition, said Dan Pfeiffer, community chairman for the Nelsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the event.
Cooking takes place Friday and Saturday, the blind judging will occur Saturday. Judging will be based solely on texture, taste and appearance, Pfeiffer said.
And though the public might probe barbecue contestants for their secrets on Friday, Steve Grinstead, contest representative at Kansas City Barbeque Society, which is sanctioning the event, said proper barbecue etiquette calls for them to leave their work closer to judging.
“Saturday is game time,” Grinstead said.
Contestants have the chance to compete in any of the four barbecue categories — chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket.
But those who want to vie for the overall champion title and $3,000 prize must enter each of the four categories, Pfeiffer said.
In addition, the overall champion will qualify for the American Royal Invitational held in Kansas City and will be placed in the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue contest drawing, said Carolyn Wells, executive director and co-founder of the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
Though the stakes are high, contestants also might compete in only a portion of the four main categories or opt to compete in the competition’s newest addition, People’s Choice.
People’s Choice, a category judged by the public and held to the same standards used by the professional judges, is enjoying its third year as part of the competition, Pfeiffer said.
About half of last year’s 43 teams entered the People’s Choice, though Pfeiffer said it is unknown how many People’s Choice teams will compete this year.
“In years past, we’ve had teams as far as from Texas, Kansas, South Dakota and upstate New York,” Grinstead said.
The competition starts tonight and goes all day Saturday.
sg409809@ohiou.edu
