As I third year cook, I have to say I agree with top 5 payouts and maybe ribbons or something for 6-10 in individual categories.
We have a limited budget, no sponsors, very little fancy equipment (no pellet poopers, stokers, gurus, etc.) And we're in it mostly for the fun of it.
We did 4 KCBS comps in 2008 got 1 call 3rd pork. We were ecstatic!!!
6 KCBS comps last year, got 6 calls, 4 of them top 5
This year we've done 1 so far and got 2 calls, both top 5
Someone else on this forum(who will remain nameless:icon_shy) tends to call anything below Grand Champ "first loser":twisted:. While I might look at it that way when I've been at it a little longer, I think ANY call is encouraging, it means we're on the right track, are improving, and gives us reason to come back and do it again.
But I would rather see more money to 1-5, ribbons or something for 6-10, and make the top 10 overall all be awarded more generously. Money we got for our 2 6-10 finishes was pretty much negligible anyway, but 2 top 5's paid our entry and half our meat!
Smokin' Gnome, I think if they only paid the top 10 overall, and not at least top 5 in categories you would have far fewer teams not come back again. I wouldn't
Just MHO:wink: