The Texas BBQ Forum

I am wanting to enter my first bbq competition and I am wondering what the best way to go about it would be. How do I find out which ones I can enter, and how to enter? Any information and/or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Welcome GBS to the forum.
It would help folks to answer your question if we knew where you are located. This forum is pretty much worldwide.

If you are from TX look at the calendars in the competition sections. They are pinned at the top.
Other than that if you have not judged a comp before I can tell you the consensus here will be to judge an event before cooking one so you know what the judges will be looking for and getting.

Thank y'all. And Papa Tom I'm in Fort Worth.

I would try and judge the FT.Worth Cops4kids cookoff in March at the Stockyards.

Being able to judge first could be helpful, but I don't think it's necessary. If you cook good Q and your friends and family say its amazing, then you are probably good to go. I cooked my first comp without having ever judged. I met a fellow cooker out there who gave me a few helpful hints and I did what I always had and it turned out pretty good. I ended up walking in brisket and cabrito. I knew I cooked good Q, but to be honest I wasn't expecting to walk, just wanted to know what my standard recipe would do. Good luck to ya!

NPayne1 wrote:Being able to judge first could be helpful, but I don't think it's necessary. If you cook good Q and your friends and family say its amazing, then you are probably good to go. I cooked my first comp without having ever judged. I met a fellow cooker out there who gave me a few helpful hints and I did what I always had and it turned out pretty good. I ended up walking in brisket and cabrito. I knew I cooked good Q, but to be honest I wasn't expecting to walk, just wanted to know what my standard recipe would do. Good luck to ya!

Dont get me wrong, I'm not saying judging is a must, I'm just saying thats the consensus thought around here.
I too shot from the hip on my first compt and got a 3rd in brisket, granted it wasnt sanctioned, but enough to get me hooked.
I'll just admit I pretty much got lucky,but it's not typical for most.

Jtilk, I'm not disagreeing with ya. I was just giving the OP another option. Being able to judge a comp could save you tons of money and heartache trying to figure out what wins. But I also think it could be discouraging to a newbie. The best advice anyone could give you is to HAVE FUN!

I really appreciate the advice. I love to cook and have been getting really positive feedback on my cue, so I'm anxious to see how my cue stacks up in competition.

I cooked 3 or 4 private club cook offs and 2 sanctioned ones with no love from the judges. I'll admit some of it wasn't my best work. The next cookout in my area I wanted to cook but didn't have the time. I was able to go on Saturday and judge chicken. Now I know how far off I was on that meat and got some ideas on others. My next cook got 1st ribs and 3rd chicken. I still have a hard time with brisket. BUT I have a great time doing it.

txmike wrote:I cooked 3 or 4 private club cook offs and 2 sanctioned ones with no love from the judges. I'll admit some of it wasn't my best work. The next cookout in my area I wanted to cook but didn't have the time. I was able to go on Saturday and judge chicken. Now I know how far off I was on that meat and got some ideas on others. My next cook got 1st ribs and 3rd chicken. I still have a hard time with brisket. BUT I have a great time doing it.

It always nice to win, but it's important to never stop having fun. Hope you keep dialing it in.

Yes just have FUN!

Me myself I have yet to compete due to the fact I have no truck to transport my pit, which will be changing this summer (getting a used truck!) when I go mobile and hit the local cook-offs (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, etc.).

I'm just looking to have fun, winning would just be icing on the cake.

BBQ for me is my stress release and plus I just like to see people happy eating my food, judge or not.

I do have my first paying cooking gig in March (They want the brisket, mac & cheese and my sauce) I'd do it for free but they want to pay.

(the artist formerly known as Old Stone Fort)