Various Sanctioning Bodies

[motoeric]

Does anyone have a list of the various sanctioning bodies for competitive BBQ?

Thanks,

[stlgreg]

I typed this out for a diffferent reason but it should answer your qeuestion.

BBQ Associations
There was also some discussion about the governing bodies of BBQ. There are the big 2, Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) and Memphis in May (MIM). There are two other sanctioning smaller bodies - Florida Barbecue Association (FBA) and International Barbecue Cookers Association (IBCA). There are a couple of major associations that basically promote BBQ and use KCBS as their base. Those would be California Barbecue Assoication (CBBQA), New England Barbecue Society (NEBS), and Illinois Barbecue Society (ILBBQS).

KCBS – Competitors compete in four categories, pork, chicken, ribs, and brisket. A cook must submit an entry in all four categories to win a Grand Championship. Teams turn in their entries in 30 minute intervals. All judging is done blind. Teams can be as little as one person and it generally costs about $500 to participate in one contest. The American Royal is considered the “World Series of BBQ.” It is the largest contest every year on the KCBS Circuit. Judges have to pay to judge the Royal.

MIM – Competitors can compete in any or all of the following three categories, whole hog, full pork shoulders, and/or ribs. Each team turns in a blind box. Judges then visit the booths of the three highest scores. The team with the highest score in any of the three categories is declared the grand champion. Just this past year MIM dropped out of the sanctioning business. A new group came about - Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) that will sanction contests in the tradition of MIM. In the past winners of MIM sanctioned events advanced to Memphis in May. Memphis In May is also considered the Super Bowl Of Swine. To compete at MIM it can cost over 2 grand and requires more team members. Judges have to judge at two MBN contests before they can pay to judge MIM.

FBA – Basically the same rules as KCBS except there is an hour between turn in times. Winners do not advance to the Royal.

IBCA – Mainly in Texas. Teams cook ribs, chicken, and brisket. There are no sanctioning of judges what so ever. They pull strangers off the street to judge the meat.


Two other prestigious contests
Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show – Happens every Feb. Teams cook two slabs of ribs, two chickens, and two briskets. 150,000 people regularly attend the contest.

Jack Daniels World Championship – One team from each state is invited to compete in what is considered the World Championship. It is in Lynchburg, TN every year. They compete with the KCBS rules. They use celebrity judges.

[nancee]

Eric,
You guys getting NEBS sactioned for this event again?
nancee

Originally Posted by motoeric

Does anyone have a list of the various sanctioning bodies for competitive BBQ?

Thanks,

[ThomEmery]

Greg IBCA events are not 100% off the street Judges
While there is no formal CBJ program
Many folks follow the competitions
judging on a regular basis
In effect they are informal CBJs
Also IBCA is the second largest Sanctioning body

great system for new smaller contests
I use it for events below 20 teams above 20 I use KCBS

[drbbq]

Originally Posted by stlgreg

I typed this out for a diffferent reason but it should answer your qeuestion.

BBQ Associations
There was also some discussion about the governing bodies of BBQ. There are the big 2, Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) and Memphis in May (MIM). There are two other sanctioning smaller bodies - Florida Barbecue Association (FBA) and International Barbecue Cookers Association (IBCA). There are a couple of major associations that basically promote BBQ and use KCBS as their base. Those would be California Barbecue Assoication (CBBQA), New England Barbecue Society (NEBS), and Illinois Barbecue Society (ILBBQS).

KCBS – Competitors compete in four categories, pork, chicken, ribs, and brisket. A cook must submit an entry in all four categories to win a Grand Championship. Teams turn in their entries in 30 minute intervals. All judging is done blind. Teams can be as little as one person and it generally costs about $500 to participate in one contest. The American Royal is considered the “World Series of BBQ.” It is the largest contest every year on the KCBS Circuit. Judges have to pay to judge the Royal.

MIM – Competitors can compete in any or all of the following three categories, whole hog, full pork shoulders, and/or ribs. Each team turns in a blind box. Judges then visit the booths of the three highest scores. The team with the highest score in any of the three categories is declared the grand champion. Just this past year MIM dropped out of the sanctioning business. A new group came about - Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) that will sanction contests in the tradition of MIM. In the past winners of MIM sanctioned events advanced to Memphis in May. Memphis In May is also considered the Super Bowl Of Swine. To compete at MIM it can cost over 2 grand and requires more team members. Judges have to judge at two MBN contests before they can pay to judge MIM.

FBA – Basically the same rules as KCBS except there is an hour between turn in times. Winners do not advance to the Royal.

IBCA – Mainly in Texas. Teams cook ribs, chicken, and brisket. There are no sanctioning of judges what so ever. They pull strangers off the street to judge the meat.


Two other prestigious contests
Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show – Happens every Feb. Teams cook two slabs of ribs, two chickens, and two briskets. 150,000 people regularly attend the contest.

Jack Daniels World Championship – One team from each state is invited to compete in what is considered the World Championship. It is in Lynchburg, TN every year. They compete with the KCBS rules. They use celebrity judges.

There's some misinformation here. IBCA is easily the second biggest group and the FBA may have more contests than MIM/MBA these days.

The American Royal OPEN is the largest KCBS contest. The American Royal INVITATIONAL isn't sanctioned by anyone but is run according to KCBS rules.

FBA winners of contests with a State Championship Proclamation or are over 50 teams are invited to the American Royal INVITATIONAL. So are IBCA winners, MBN winners and even winners of non-sanctioned contests as long as the contests are qualifiers.

[stlgreg]

Originally Posted by drbbq

There's some misinformation here. IBCA is easily the second biggest group and the FBA may have more contests than MIM/MBA these days.

The American Royal OPEN is the largest KCBS contest. The American Royal INVITATIONAL isn't sanctioned by anyone but is run according to KCBS rules.

FBA winners of contests with a State Championship Proclamation or are over 50 teams are invited to the American Royal INVITATIONAL. So are IBCA winners, MBN winners and even winners of non-sanctioned contests as long as the contests are qualifiers.

Thanks Doc

[motoeric]

Originally Posted by nancee

Eric,
You guys getting NEBS sactioned for this event again?
nancee

The Sayville event? Yes.

Eric

[ZILLA]

The HLSR has only one turn in per team. You have to choose before you cook which one you want to turn in and then cook two of those in case you're chosen to go to the second round.

[Wizards of 'Que]

"Judges have to judge at two MBN contests before they can pay to judge MIM." A minor correction. NBA are not certified until they have judged two contests. While judging these two contests, their scoring is closely monitored by the Reps and additional training is given if required. On rare occasions more than two contest may be required before certification. I wish KCBS would incorporate this into their certification program.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by drbbq

FBA winners of contests with a State Championship Proclamation or are over 50 teams are invited to the American Royal INVITATIONAL. So are IBCA winners, MBN winners and even winners of non-sanctioned contests as long as the contests are qualifiers.

Hey Ray. You might know this, as I have never had any reason to pay attention to this. I am assuming that any State Championship contest with FBA is eligible for the Jack draw? Anyone know how many contests were in the draw for the Jack last year out of Florida? :-)

Scottie

[tony76248]

I would definitely edit that IBCA info. They are the fastest growing sanctioning body out there and many IBCA cookers have faired very well in KCBS competitions, as well as at the Royal.

As far as the judging criteria goes, I am all in favor of sponsors providing the judges. That said, many times competition team members (but not the head cook) will judge the first round.

Another suggestion I might toss out there is to compete in an IBCA then make your statements on the judging following your experience.

The IBCA also sent quite a large contingent to the Royal this year as they do almost every year.