Certified BBQ judging class to be held in Ada

Randy Mitchell Staff Writer

Ada December 31, 2008 01:00 pm

— For people who love Barbecue, and have always wanted to judge a barbecue contest, help is just around the corner.
The Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), a nonprofit organization, will be coming to Ada to hold a certified barbecue judging class in January. Sonya Hensley, event coordinator, said people who like to travel and want to try plenty of different barbecue should sign up.
“Once they go through the class, they are certified to be a KCBS judge and participate in any of the sanctioned barbecue contests across America anywhere in the United States.
The class will be Jan. 17 at Wintersmith Lodge. To register, or for more information phone Hensley at (580) 399-9630 or by e-mail at sonyahensley@yahoo.com.
“Cost is $85 per person for non-KCBS members,” Hensley said. “Or $50 per person for KCBS members. With that paid enrollment fee for non-members, they get a year’s subscription to KCBS and it includes their membership in the barbecue society.”
Mary Shivers, coordinator of the annual “Pigs Can Fly” BBQ Cook-Off, held in conjunction with the fourth annual Ada Air Expo, said being a barbecue judge is a great thing.
“It’s a really fun thing,” Shivers said. “You go and you meet a lot of people, you get to try some great barbecue, but you also get to take a lot of it home. It’s fun!”
Hensley said delicious barbecue will be available at the class.
“We actually go through a mock contest and Allan Butler out at Fat Boy’s BBQ and Deli will be cooking for us,” Hensley said.
She said although the classes have been held in Oklahoma before, this is the first time in Ada.
“We have two barbecue contests here in Ada every year,” Hensley said. “One is at the air show and the other is at the county fair every year and I think this will help build some interest in those contests.”
Mary Krause, president of the Ada Lions Club and chairman of the “Pigs can Fly” BBQ Cook-Off, said certified barbecue judges are always in demand.
“We had last year maybe 25 teams that entered and for each team that enters, we have to have a judge and preferably a certified judge, so I would encourage anybody, who loves barbecue and wants to learn how to become a judge and have an opportunity for them to judge right here in Oklahoma at the Ada air Expo in 2009.”
According to its Web site, KCBS is the world’s largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts with over 8,000 members worldwide.
KCBS sanctions almost 300 barbecue contests coast-to-coast throughout America.