 The Backyard BBQ is a special side event being held for the first
time this year. It is for the novice barbecuer and will take place
downtown during Lincoln's third annual "Up in Smoke on the Square,"
a Kansas City Barbeque Society nationally sanctioned event that is
part of the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival.According to Shane
Alley, who is overseeing the new competition with Josh Merreighn,
the idea came up during an Up in Smoke committee meeting. The
committee wanted to do something new, something that would open the
door to local participation in the barbecue competition.
Alley said the idea gelled, and they began working toward making
it a reality about four months ago.
He noted that the event will be sponsored by Royal Oak, which has
been a supporter of the KCBS-sanctioned event in Lincoln for the
past three years. They asked Royal Oak to be a part of the new
event, and the company was happy to do so.
Alley said the competition will take place on Saturday in the 200
block of South Kickapoo. There are currently 20 spaces available for
cooks, and 10 have signed up to participate. Alley said he is
hopeful that the other 10 spaces will fill up by the day of the
event.
The Backyard BBQ will serve as an introduction to the bigger
sanctioned event and give local folks a taste of what it would be
like to compete with the big boys.
In addition, the grand prize winner will be given that
opportunity. Alley said the grand prize winner in this year's
competition will have their entry fee into next year’s Up in Smoke
waived, so they will be able to go head-on with nationally known
cooks.
For the most part, the contest will follow the same rules as the
KCBS event, with just a couple of exceptions.
In KCBS, gas grills are not allowed in competition, but for the
new event, they will be allowed.
In addition, each contestant in the KCBS competition is required
to serve up four meats. The new competition will require only two:
pork ribs and chicken.
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 The Backyard BBQ will be a "bring your own everything" event.
Electricity and water will be available nearby but not provided to
the individual cooking spaces. Competitors will need to bring
buckets or a hose for cleanup and sanitation.
Meat will be inspected upon arrival. It must be iced and raw, not
marinated, injected or pre-rubbed.
Teams should plan to bring a small grill or smoker of some kind,
a pop-up tent, maybe a small table to work on, utensils, lawn
chairs, snacks and a cooler of refreshments. Each team will be given
a box used specifically for turning in their entry.
Competitors are asked to arrive at 7 a.m. Saturday for check-in
at the corner of Clinton and Kickapoo streets.
The cooks will meet at 8:45 a.m. under the Lincoln Theater
marquee. During the meeting there will be a review of the
competition rules.
Prize money, sponsored by Royal Oak, will total $500, with first,
second and third paying $75, $50 and $25, respectively, plus $200
for the highest combined totals from both categories. In addition,
every entrant will receive a free bag of Royal Oak charcoal.
Alley finished up talking about the new event by saying: "We just
hope everyone will come out, have a good time, meet a few new
people, eat some really good barbecue and win some nice cash."
[By NILA SMITH]
Up in Smoke on the Square
Lincoln Backyard BBQ
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