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The Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Cookoff celebrates its 16th year with the opening of the event Friday evening at the fairgrounds.
It all began in 1993 with 20 teams competing for the title of Grand Champion and has grown into one of the biggest contests this side of the world famous American Royal in Kansas City. The Cookoff is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society [KCBS].
According to Susann Huff, Laurie’s Parks & Events Coordinator the number of contestants won’t likely top last year’s record — but you never know until Friday who might show.
“As of today [Wed. July 23] we have 65 that have registered, but there’s several other teams that I know are coming,” said Huff, who’s been in charge of the event for the past 12 years. “I hope we get at least to 72.”
It’s a family-style event featuring the Kids Que, a competition for aspiring young cookers from 5 to 15 years old. Last year the Kids Que had 21 contestants in the younger group [5-10 yrs.] and 15 in the older age bracket [11-15 yrs.]
Last year’s adult Grand Champions, “Four Men and a Pig” of Olathe, Kan. are back this year. Last August Mark Grieco’s team walked away with $1,000 in cash during a season in which they finished in the top three of the KCBS, according to Huff.
She said this year a total of $5,475 will be paid in prize money to the Grand Champion, Reserve Champion [$750] and 1st Reserve Champion [$500], plus all winners receive banners to display at future contests.
On Friday beginning at 6 p.m. the public is invited to come to the Happy Holler Beer Garden to enjoy barbecue chicken wings donated by G-2-M Grocery Store and prepared by Cookoff contestants.
In recent weeks the Laurie public works department, along with Huff and Dru Hayes, installed 12 more RV hookups in the park, doubling the park’s capacity. The project, which Huff said cost about $5,000, was paid for by proceeds from last year’s Cookoff.
“We want to continue to grow this contest — my goal is 100 [contestants] — we can manage that,” she claimed.
A critical component of this sanctioned competition is finding enough judges, since there needs to be about as many judges as cookers. As of last week Huff said she was contacting WestSiders who’ve done it in the past.
“Right now [with 65 teams committed] I need 84 bodies, including table captains and judges,” she said. “So, if you’re interested, please give me a call [374-8776].”
Phil and Rosemary Morrow and Linda Showalter, none of whom is a stranger to the Laurie Cookoff, will be the KCBS officials during the event.
The Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Cookoff celebrates its 16th year with the opening of the event Friday evening at the fairgrounds.
It all began in 1993 with 20 teams competing for the title of Grand Champion and has grown into one of the biggest contests this side of the world famous American Royal in Kansas City. The Cookoff is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society [KCBS].
According to Susann Huff, Laurie’s Parks & Events Coordinator the number of contestants won’t likely top last year’s record — but you never know until Friday who might show.
“As of today [Wed. July 23] we have 65 that have registered, but there’s several other teams that I know are coming,” said Huff, who’s been in charge of the event for the past 12 years. “I hope we get at least to 72.”
It’s a family-style event featuring the Kids Que, a competition for aspiring young cookers from 5 to 15 years old. Last year the Kids Que had 21 contestants in the younger group [5-10 yrs.] and 15 in the older age bracket [11-15 yrs.]
Last year’s adult Grand Champions, “Four Men and a Pig” of Olathe, Kan. are back this year. Last August Mark Grieco’s team walked away with $1,000 in cash during a season in which they finished in the top three of the KCBS, according to Huff.
She said this year a total of $5,475 will be paid in prize money to the Grand Champion, Reserve Champion [$750] and 1st Reserve Champion [$500], plus all winners receive banners to display at future contests.
On Friday beginning at 6 p.m. the public is invited to come to the Happy Holler Beer Garden to enjoy barbecue chicken wings donated by G-2-M Grocery Store and prepared by Cookoff contestants.
In recent weeks the Laurie public works department, along with Huff and Dru Hayes, installed 12 more RV hookups in the park, doubling the park’s capacity. The project, which Huff said cost about $5,000, was paid for by proceeds from last year’s Cookoff.
“We want to continue to grow this contest — my goal is 100 [contestants] — we can manage that,” she claimed.
A critical component of this sanctioned competition is finding enough judges, since there needs to be about as many judges as cookers. As of last week Huff said she was contacting WestSiders who’ve done it in the past.
“Right now [with 65 teams committed] I need 84 bodies, including table captains and judges,” she said. “So, if you’re interested, please give me a call [374-8776].”
Phil and Rosemary Morrow and Linda Showalter, none of whom is a stranger to the Laurie Cookoff, will be the KCBS officials during the event.
