Barbecue cook-off sanctioning. What’s it all about? Sanctioning of a cook-off means that some organization has put it’s stamp of approval on the event. In order to get sanctioned the event producers just agree to abide by rules and procedures set down by the sanctioning body. The event is supervised by one or more representatives of the sanctioning body. To the contestants sanctioning means they will be assured a fair judging following set procedures.
At this writing there are two main sanctioning bodies for barbecue cook-offs: The Kansas City Barbecue Society and the Florida Barbecue Association. The KCBS claims sanctioning 200 cook-offs per year. I can’t find any figures on the FBA. A count of completed contests on their web site shows about 25 over the past year.
Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioning. How do you get sanctioned? If you, your civic organization, fair or rodeo or whatever wants a sanctioned barbecue contest you have to play by the rules. For Kansas City Barbecue Society Sanctioning you start by contacting them six months prior to your proposed date and proposing three or four possible dates for your event. If there is a suitable date open you send for a sanctioning packet which contains all the rules and paper work. With all the blanks filled in you send in your application along with $300 (the minimum sanctioning fee). The KCBS Board of Directors will then decide if you will get sanctioning. If you get approval and are putting on your first contest, you are required to attend a KCBS contest and observe all aspects of it’s operation. At least 30 days prior to your event. You must submit proof that you were indeed at the contest. Or you can send a detailed contest plan to the Board of Directors. As I understand it, the cost of sanctioning is the minimum $300 plus $12 per team for up to 49 teams. Over 49 teams the cost is $450 plus $12 per team.
What do I get for my money? You will get a minimum of two contest representatives from KCBS to oversee your operation. You are responsible for expenses incurred by the contest representatives working your contest. These expenses include: Air fare plus ground transportation and/or personal auto mileage at the IRS established rate. If the contest representative(s) stay over night you are responsible for their lodging and meals. You pay the contest representative(s) at the conclusion of the contest. If the contest is cancelled by either the organizer or KCBS no monies are refundable and you are responsible for any out of pocket expenses incurred by the contest representatives. For the contest you will get from KCBS:
A free listing of the event in their newspaper and on their web site.
Two contest representatives
All judges plates and judge’s slips required
Computer(s) and software required to tally the score.
Proprietary uniform rules for the contest.
The contest representatives supervise the contest and
Conduct cooks meeting
Conduct judge meeting
Conduct Table Captain meeting
Supervise the judging process
Supervise the tabulation process
Attend to required paperwork to be submitted.
Enforce all KCBS rules and regulations throughout the contest.
KCBS reserves the right to display, promote and sell, KCBS products and services and that of it’s national sponsors at KCBS sanctioned events. The event must provide KCBS a 40’ X 30’ space in a highly accessible location for this purpose. This merchandising operation will not be included in every cook-off. It is at option of KCBS. And you will need a million dollar liability insurance policy on the event.
Florida Barbecue Association
FBA pretty much starts off the same as KCBS for setting a date. FBA has a $50 non-refundable application fee. What do I get for my money? For the $50 application fee plus $500 for minimum sanction you get three contest representatives. If additional contest representatives are needed they come for only $125 per each. Of course the event sponsors are responsible for all expenses incurred by the contest representatives while they are on the job.
FBA also gets the free space to sell their products with the understanding that any and all profits from there go to FBA. In addition the rules say: “Contest organizer(s) agree that the official FBA logo will be used on any and all promotional and advertising material including but not limited to, contest application, posters, banners, T-shirts,hats, and flyers. The FBA will be announced as the official sanctioning body for any and all television, radio, internet or print reports. --”
There you have it boys and girls. All about sanctioning by the “Big Two”.. These are just the highlights there are pages and pages of related material. I’m sure there are other sanctioning bodies out there. I just don’t have any information on them at the present time. If you have a sanctioning body you would like for me to review get in contact with me via my email.