WELLSVILLE – The third annual Cache Valley Smokeout will be held this Friday and Saturday, July 19- 20 at the America West Heritage Center located at 4025 S. Hwy 89-91.
One of last years competitors tastes ribs hos team cooked.
This event is a fundraiser for the Cache Food Pantry and the America West Heritage Center and is growing in popularity with professionals and backyard cooks.
Matt Whitaker, the organizer of Smokeout and executive director of the Cache Food Pantry, hopes the public will come out and support the competition.
“The public is welcome to come visit with the teams any time, but if they want to be part of the People’s Choice Award, tasting will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday,” he said. “Prizes will be awarded at 5 p.m. that evening at the awards ceremony.”
Ribs prepared for judging at last years Cache Smokeout.
Generally, there are a variety of smokers, some are the back yard pellet type, some, big offset smokers and some look like they are from another world. At the end of the day it is all about which entrée tastes the best. There are also professional and hobby cooks giving it their best effort.
“This year we have 28 teams in the four-meat competition and 14 teams in the Friday evening steak competition,” Whitaker said. “We are the first cookout like this in Northern Utah, but this year The Kansas City Barbecue Society has come to Salt Lake and may have taken some people who could have participated. We may have to change the Smokeout to the Fall next year.”
There are two different sets of judges at the smokeout: there are local professional judges, and, for fun, they have assembled a VIP panel.
“There are about 20 VIP judges, from business, non-profit and government offices,” he said. “They will select a winner for a cash prize and a Green Mountain Grill Smoker.”
This year’s grand champion will take home $2,000 and $1,200 goes to second place. Those who score highest in the four different categories will win $1,000 each.
This year’s anchor sponsors are Blackstone Grills and Kartchner Homes.
“Blackstone will have a big presence at the Smokeout, they are going to unveil their new smoker and will give the public some of their samples,” he said. “JBS Swift has agreed to supply the briskets. Each team will smoke ribs and chicken thighs and pork shoulder. They supply their own.”
“We have $8,000 in prize money. The Grand Champion will win $2,000 and the Reserve Champion will take home $1,200,” he added. “We have other cash prizes: second place gets $750, third place gets $500, and fourth place gets $150.”