58 2014 Art & Balloon Festival Lincoln Daily News.com August 25, 2014
Art of Wine and Brew tent, served as judges.
Chelsie Campbell’s
guacamole was chosen as
the winner. Campbell a Lincolnite, married and
mother of two children, teaches Junior High in
Bloomington. She won a trip.
KCBS BBQ contestants arrived on Friday in order
to get signed in and set up for the contest that
begins early on Saturday morning.
Starting the third year, contestants were offered
an additional, contest that has become quite the
signature event. The Anything Goes gives the
professional contestants something creative to
do during a lag time, and though it is a non-
sanctioned competition, it is another opportunity
to win some money.
The Anything Goes contest requires four skewers
of meat arranged creatively with the use of a
watermelon rind in the display. Local emergency
responders get to be the judges. The presentations
have been an absolute eye treat, stunning in color
and creative design sensations, and for some
odd reason, the arrangements commonly have a
tropical feel that feels natural in central Illinois.
Maybe it is the warm and humid time of year that
carries this off.
There were 11 entries and 20 judges to enjoy the
amazing looking and tasty treats this year. The
presentations were judged on appearance, taste
and sauce, and offered a total purse of $750 to the
top five entries, $300 going to first place.
Anything Goes winners:
1st Place – Bear Down Smokin’ Barbeque
2nd Place – Special Ed’s BBQ
3rd Place - Nut Hatch Hill BBQ Company
4th Place – Silver Bullet Smokers
5th Place - Rib Tip Tuesdays
On Saturday two contests were offered that drew
a total of 76 contestants. A ‘Backyard Barbeque’
contest encouraged amateurs into competition,
with the main event of Up in Smoke on the Square
reserved for professionals.
The combined contests offered a total purse of
$15,000 in prize money, the 2nd highest payout in
the state of Illinois. This year’s Grand Champion,
‘Monster Que’ was awarded $3,000 and ‘It’s
5 O’Clock Somewhere’ took Reserve Grand
Champion for $1,500.
Individual category payouts awarded $500 to
top competitor, and awards were given to the top
10 teams in each category of Beef Brisket, Pork
Shoulder, Chicken, and Ribs.
Backyard Barbeque
The Backyard Barbeque contest drew those people
who are amateurs, but they love to BBQ and have
family and friends that always say, and they mean
it, “This is the best BBQ I’ve ever tasted. You
ought to enter a contest. You’d win with this great
stuff, really!”
There were 26 entries in the Backyard Barbeque,
most were teams that live nearby.
The Backyard Barbeque was open for chicken and
for ribs. Awards were given in three categories:
Chicken, ribs and combined score overall winner.
The top five winners in the Backyard Barbeque
contests:
Backyard Barbeque Overall
1st place - Channability BBQ
2nd place – Backdraft BBQ Crew
3rd place – Double D’s Rack Shack
4th place – Tbone’s BBQ Emporium
5th place - Get Sauced BBQ
Continued
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