Seventy-one teams of barbecue contestants, some multi-champions will compete for prize money.
A three-time world champion and a two-time Kansas City Royals champ ... and even a local barbecue star are slated to be among the celebrity chefs who will cook up brisket, ribs, chicken and pork.
Myron Mixon from Georgia is the three-time world champ and 73-year-old Johnny Trigg of Texas is the two-time Kansas City Royal champion.
Local celebrity Bill Wheeler and his wife, Sue, will also be participating along with 56 other professional teams.
The Foothills Country Fair will be held July 26-29, at the Exhibition Center.
“These Kansas City barbecue pros are featured on a number of television shows and all are sanctioned through the Kansas City Barbecue Society. There will be $10,000 in cash prizes,” Alford said.
The KCBS sanctions more than 400 barbecue contests in the U.S. At present, 40 teams have committed.
“These are made up of all professional pitmasters,” Alford explained.
“It will be a barbecue all-star lineup.”
Alford said the latest pro entry was “Lotta Bull” from Marietta, Oklahoma. Alford noted the group as four-time Kansas City Royal BBQ Champions.
Alford said the pros will begin their quest about 3 a.m. that following Saturday cooking four meats. All have to produce each of the four selections to certify for the competition.
Judging will begin at noon and announcements of winners will be at 4 p.m., tentatively.
Fifty professional KC-certified judges will partake of the barbecue.
Of course, visitors to the fair can participate as well by purchasing the privilege to taste the meats and make their “People’s Choice” distinction.
Alford also said number of “Backyard Barbecue” teams have committed so far.
“One of the highlights of the event will be a barbecue judges certification class which will be held July 27 at Mountain View Inn,” Alford said.
Wheeler will be cooking for those who sign up and at this time, 30 people have registered for the class.
Local celebrity judges already certified by the KCBS are Chip Chapman of WDEF television and Don Welch of WTVC.
Helping sponsor the KCBS sanctioned event are Larry Hill Ford and the Bank of Cleveland.
Alford said even though the fair will be featuring the barbecue, many other activities will be going on as well, such as a Sauce and Sausage Friday night. That event will be sponsored by Wampler’s Sausage.
Other featured events at this year’s fair are the carnival, pageants, local musicians and singers and the Grammy, Academy of Country Musicians and Country Music Association award winning group Shenandoah will perform. Other events include lawnmower racing and a demolition derby.
“Officials have said that it is phenomenal that we have this many entrants to the contest since it’s the first time we have organized it,” Alford said.
For additional information about the fair, barbecue contest or other events, visit www.foothills countryfair.webs.com.
