1st Annual Texarkana BBQ cookoff
Are you the king or queen of the grill?
Date: August 2,2025
Registration: $20
Location: VFW Post 4562 4700 E 9 Street Texarkana, AR 71854
Don’t want to cook?
Come out and enjoy the vendors, games and music
Interested in being a vendor?
Contact Amanda McIntyre (430) 455-9777
Setup: 9:00am - 10:00am
Cooking starts at 10am
Judging starts at 5pm
Scan for Registration Form
1st Annual BBQ Competition Official Rules
Categories: Chicken Ribs Brisket
General Rules:
- Judging Times Judging begins at 5pm
- LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
- ALL participants must register AND pay registration fees no later than 11:59pm on July 26
- Cooking stations will be assigned upon arrival
- Set up time begins at 9am and ends at 10am.
- NO CONTESTANT WILL BE ALLOWED ENTRY AFTER 10AM.
- Teams are responsible for providing their own grills, smokers, tools, and ingredients
- Electricity will NOT be provided, if power is needed, competitors are required to provide their own generator
- Water will be provided
- Competitors are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe cooking area
- Good sportsmanship is expected at all times
Meat Preparation Guidelines
- Pre-marination is allowed for all meat categories
- Chicken and Ribs: Must arrive raw at the competition site. NO PRE-COOKING PERMITTED.
- Brisket: May begin cooking prior to arrival; however cooking must be completed onsite during the competition. Judges reserve the right to verify this.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged on the following:
- Appearance
- Taste/Flavor
- Tenderness/Texture
All judging will be conducted BLINDLY to ensure fairness.
The judging panel’s decisions are FINAL.
There will be judges from the Marine Corps League Texarkana 1149 Detachment, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Young Marines. There will be guest judges as well!!
ANY CONTESTANT WHO TURNS IN UNDERCOOKED PRODUCE WILL IMMEDIATELY BE DISQUALIFIED & FORFEIT ALL FEES.
Awards:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in each category will receive a plaque.
1st Place in each category will also receive a single-tier trophy
An Overall Grand Champion will be selected based on combined scores across all categories and will receive: A double-tiered trophy A Grand Champion plaque
Additional Notes:
- Failure to follow these rules may result in disqualification
- All competitors are encouraged to have fun, show good sportsmanship, and enjoy great barbecue!
- This event is intended for friendly competition and community enjoyment
- There will be up to 10 judges.
- Contestants must provide enough food for each judge to sample their entry.
