Backyard Blogging.

Do you love to grill and share your delicious food for others?  Have a competitive spirit? Do you enjoy watching BBQ competitions on television? Perhaps friends and family tell you your BBQ is the best.

If so, it’s time to turn your excitement into action! Consider starting a BBQ competition team. You will excel using a Traeger or Big Green Egg, and we can help you get started!

In this article, we look at how to start a BBQ competition team.

Step 1: Go to a Competition

First, you want to find a BBQ contest you can attend nearby. Visit the website for the Kansas Barbecue Society for event information.

Next, look at a particular competition to see what day the competitors have to turn their meats in. If it’s on a Saturday, go to the competition Friday night. This way you can meet the teams and visit with them. Ask them how they got started and for some tips.

If you go to the competition on the big day, they are probably going to be too busy to talk to you as they’re preparing their entries for the judges.

Step 2: Be a Judge

We’ve found that many competition chefs begin their careers as BBQ judges. This is a great way to get your feet wet and learn how things work.

To be a BBQ judge, you usually have to pay a nominal fee and attend a short seminar to learn about the criteria and rules for judging BBQ competitions.

If you become a judge, you’ll have a unique vantage point to see what people are entering, taste everything, and learn about the competition before entering yourself.

Step 3: Jump In

The other alternative is to just find a competition and enter. You know your BBQ is great, and you’re ready for the competition. Decide if you’ll enter on your own, or grab your favorite friends and put a team together.

If you choose this route, make sure to do your research online. Check out BBQ websites and forums. See what others have learned. Take this and put your own spin on it.

We’ve found that barbecue competitors are great people who are always ready to lend a helping hand or provide a bit of advice.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’re ready, we are here to help you with the perfect grill and accessories. Be sure and stop by one of our locations!

Have fun and good luck!