BBQ competition heats up at the Bates County Fairgrounds

A drive past the fairgrounds in Butler will reveal a delicious aroma as the sanctioned BBQ event is well underway as part of the Bates County Fair. Judging for all entries will be starting around noon.  

READY TO GO Kallie Gilkey and Natalie Nitchals of Appleton City prepare to help the owner of Inclusive BBQ of Massachusetts load the smoker. The girls were chosen to help today as they just completed a course in judging and in fact will be off to Osceola next week to do just that.

 

Brad  Colter, owner of Smoke 'n Magic in Kansas City checks to be sure ribs are at exactly the right temperature. He also operates a restaurant near the KCI airport and has a very good understanding of cooking of all types. However, he mentioned in our conversation this morning that his smoked ribs are an all time favorite.

Wayne Bucknail, although born in England, has developed a keen sense of perfecting American BBQ. Here, he takes a brief break before judging begins in a few hours.