2025 Pufferbilly Days

BBQ Cook-Off

Sunday, September 21st

McHose Park- Main Shelter

(1215 Frances Mason Dr.)

2025 DIVISIONS:

- PEOPLE'S CHOICE PORK LOIN

- RIBS

- BRISKET

- CHICKEN

- TURKEY

- 'STEAL THE SHOW' SIDE

- YOUTH DIVISION (17 and under- Free to enter!)

Registration with entry fee payment due by Cook's Meeting on Sat., September 20th.

Judging: Judging will be blind with an unidentifiable container. KCBS criteria will be recognized. 5 local enthusiast judges will be trained although uncertified. Judges decisions are FINAL.

Rules: All entries must be cooked on the official contest grounds. No boiled or fried meats will be accepted. All Pufferbilly Days Backyard BBQ Cook-off contestants are responsible for observing the following:

- accepted and prudent temperature and sanitary requirements. Contestants can't sell samples to the general public.

- up to 2 members of each team may be in the park after closing hours on Saturday, September 20th to observe cooking process. This is a special allowance for the Pufferbilly BBQ event, please adhere to city noise ordiances and keep area free of trash.

People's Choice-Pork Loin: A full pork loin and voting receptacle will be handed out at the Cook's Meeting on September 20th. Flair and Flavor are encouraged! The public will participate in sampling and voting via ticket.

Grand Champion: Determined by total points awarded (it's in your best interest to enter all categories! Each category has 100 points available.) People's Choice excluded from Grand Champion judgement.

Steal The Show Side: We brought back this exciting category for individuals outside of the BBQ Meats world to compete! Anything goes from a potato salad to brownies and everything in between. If your friends and family love it, ENTER IT! This entry does not have to be prepared on site. Reminder - All Pufferbilly Days Backyard BBQ Cook-off contestants are responsible for observing accepted and prudent temperature and sanitary requirements.

Youth Division: NEW IN 2025! Chef's choice of meat, ages 17 and under. Youth Contestant must be independent of other contestants. While an adult supervisor (parent or guardian) must be present with the child throughout the competition, the primary role of the adult is to provide guidance and ensure safety.
Adults are prohibited from handling the food preparation or cooking themselves. The child must be the one to cook and present their entry. However, adults may assist with tasks deemed dangerous (like lighting the grill) or with checking the final temperature of the meat. 

Cooks Meeting: Saturday, September 20th at 7am.

We will meet to hand out People's Choice/ ticket and judging boxes, the pork loin, and go over rules, along with field any questions.

Awards:

- Youth Division- $100 Gift Card to Fareway's Meat Market!

- Grand Champion- $250

- 1st Place- $200/ each category

- 2nd Place- $50/ each category

- 3rd Place- $25/ each catagory 

Turn In times:

12pm- People's Choice Pork Loin

12:30pm- Youth Division

1pm- Steal the Show Sides

1:30pm- Turkey

2pm- Chicken

2:30pm- Ribs

3pm- Brisket

Awards to follow-

Subject to change based on participation

Waiver of Liability In consideration of your accepting this entry, I, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby, for myself, my teammates, our heirs, executors and administrators, waive and release any and all rights and claims for damages that I or my team may have against the Pufferbilly Days BBQ Cook-off, The Boone County Chamber of Commerce, and any sponsors, vendors or volunteers of the event for any and all injuries suffered by me or my team in this event. Further, I hereby grant full permission to the Pufferbilly Days BBQ Cook-off, The Boone County Chamber of Commerce, and any agents sponsored by them to use any photographs, video recording and any other record of this event for legitimate purposes. I agree to the terms of the waiver of liability and to the Pufferbilly Days BBQ Cook-off rules and regulations.