NOOB wanting to learn!

Sounds like a plan. Good luck!

I would recommend looking at the International BBQ Society (IBCA), the Lonestar BBQ Society and the Texas Gulf Coast BBQ Society. These are prolly the 3 largest BBQ org's in Texas. The KCBS does not have a large presence in Texas. There has been mainly one consistent event up near where you are every year. I believe there is also another event that is KCBS this coming year and there is the Sam club event.

I am from the Austin area and have competed in mostly IBCA events over the years. These 3 org's differ a lot from the KCBS and you will not gain much from taking a KCBS judging class to understand the judging process of these 3 org's.

I will hopefully be competing in the Westworth Sam's club event and you are more than welcome to come by if I get in. I will find out this Wednesday.

Also you will see that a lot of people compete at the events in Texas, probably so of the best comp turnouts that I have seen. I have done comps in Tenesse, Indiana, and Kansas so far. Right now I am in Florida and I am gearing up for the FBA 2013 season, provided I do not move somewhere else in the next month. My job takes me to different places right now.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask me.

bcaggie07 said:

I would recommend looking at the International BBQ Society (IBCA), the Lonestar BBQ Society and the Texas Gulf Coast BBQ Society. These are prolly the 3 largest BBQ org's in Texas. The KCBS does not have a large presence in Texas. There has been mainly one consistent event up near where you are every year. I believe there is also another event that is KCBS this coming year and there is the Sam club event.

I am from the Austin area and have competed in mostly IBCA events over the years. These 3 org's differ a lot from the KCBS and you will not gain much from taking a KCBS judging class to understand the judging process of these 3 org's.

I will hopefully be competing in the Westworth Sam's club event and you are more than welcome to come by if I get in. I will find out this Wednesday.

Also you will see that a lot of people compete at the events in Texas, probably so of the best comp turnouts that I have seen. I have done comps in Tenesse, Indiana, and Kansas so far. Right now I am in Florida and I am gearing up for the FBA 2013 season, provided I do not move somewhere else in the next month. My job takes me to different places right now.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask me.

Click to expand...

I agree. I think KCBS usually has only 3 to 5 comps, at most, in Texas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GMD, unless you are going to compete or judge KCBS events, I wouldn't even worry about KCBS anything. You can pretty much learn what you want by watching Pitmasters season 1. Judging is quite different. In IBCA, LoneStar and Tx Gulf Coast you are not even allowed to sample the turn-ins with your hands. A new plastic knife and fork are used for every box you sample. This changes the standards of tenderness between TX and KCBS comps. No pretty chicken thighs with bite through skin either, we do chicken halves. No burnt ends either. And best of all - NO GARNISH ALLOWED! :razz:That's why I say don't worry about KCBS. But yes you are allowed to roam the comp. grounds and talk to people. Late Friday is probably best to talk to teams. Or you can just look for people sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing Sat. morning. That's what I did.:biggrin1: BTW so long as you are at least 16 (maybe 18?) you can judge TX comps so long as they need judges of course. Smaller comps are easy to walk up and be a judge, larger ones you need to contact them early if you want to judge. My best advice would attend the closest comp to you and just walk around and ask questions. You'd be surprised how helpful the teams and organizers are. Then start practicing cause you'll probably have the bug after that.

Just let me know if you are interested.

I agree with JS-TX as well. Try judging an IBCA eve

Sorry did not finish my post.

Try judging an IBCA event. You will also be able to walk around and talk to teams. That way you get a chance to eat food and talk with people. I would recommend that you try and judge the final table, that way you get to try the best food put out that day.

Something tells me you might not make it half way through the year before your 1st cook off. Check out some online BBQ comp. checklists. Once you have most of your stuff, do a comp. Best way to learn and of course you'll have tons of fun.:biggrin1:

I know its not in the Dallas area but KCBS has a contest in March, out in Midland TX.