Hey Gang! Happy Monday...Happy December! Here's what's happening the world of Illinois BBQ Society... -> Certified BBQ Judge & Certified Table Captain's Classes Scheduled... -> Speaking of classes... -> Attention Backyard (non-sanctioned) Contests... -> Members in the news... -> Upcoming Contests... -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- This newsletter brought to you by: Ace of Hearts BBQ Specialties ~ Home of the worldclass Good-One Smoker! http://www.AceofHeartsBBQ.com -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Certified BBQ Judge & Certified Table Captain's Classes Scheduled... Kicking off the New Year with a BBQ Bang, there are currently SIX BBQ Judging Classes scheduled for Illinois in 2008! Jump starting the New Year, there are two classes scheduled for Elk Grove (Northern Illinois) in January; moving downstate just a bit, there are two classes scheduled for Arthur, Illinois (Central Illinois) in March; and to round out the state long progression, there are two classes scheduled for Mt. Vernon (Southern Illinois) in April. Each location will host one Certified BBQ Judge's and one Certified Table Captain's Class. The Northern Illinois are being produced by contest organizer Ron Nunes; the Central Illinois classes by contest organizer George Fitz; and the Southern Illinois Classes by contest organizer Troy Heitmeyer. All classes will be taught by KCBS' very own rep & contest organizer Mike Lake. For additional information, check out the 'Classes' page on the ILBBQS.com website! *************************************** Speaking of classes... ILBBQS has been in talks with 8 time American Royal Champion Chris Marks of 3 Little Pigs BBQ about putting on a series of cooking classes in Illinois in 2008. This may be a GREAT opportunity to help draw visitors, and teams, to your event; to give you an 'unfair' edge at your next contest; or to help promote your BBQ business! If you're interested in having an interactive, hands-on, all-inclusive cooking class held with a true master of the BBQ, contact us immediately to book your dates! *************************************** Attention Backyard (non-sanctioned) Contests... ILBBQS will list your contest for free. To get the maximum exposure possible for your contest, be sure to send your dates as soon as they are set, and keep the information coming for the duration. Don't forget to send your contest results in after the contest for all to see. If you need a little guidance in getting your contest up and running, or would like to take your event to 'the next level', LET US KNOW! Many non-sanctioned events are tied to other events, festivals, concerts, carnivals, city celebrations, parades, special events, etc; having us list your contest on this site, and in our eNewsletter, is FREE PUBLICITY to members and subscribers in more than 7 states and 2 countries! For a little help with your event, or to have your information listed, please Contact Us! *************************************** Members in the news... Fort Lauderdale Marine Flea Market featuring "KCBS BBQ Competition" It may feel more like winter up here, but one ILBBQS member is still hot on the KCBS circuit down in the land of sun and fun! Randy & Marla Twyford, of Jacksonville, Illinois' Ulcer Acres BBQ Catering, recently made the long trip down to Florida to compete in the Fort Lauderdale Marine Flea Market KCBS BBQ Competition. Not for nothing, THEY TOOK 6TH OVERALL and all on borrowed equipment! Beating out the eventual Grand Champion in two of the four categories, Ulcer Acres BBQ went, they competed and (knowing them) had a great time! Here's how the rest of the competition went... Grand Champion: Florida Skin N Bones Reserve Champion: Smoke and Spice Overall: 1 Florida Skin N Bones 2 Smoke and Spice 3 EJs Q 4 Firehouse-BBQ.com 5 Bill and the Dixie Chick 6 Ulcer Acres BBQ 7 learn2q.com 8 Texas Rib Rangers 9 Barnwood Barbecue 10 Weapons of Mass BBQ Chicken: 1 Florida Skin N Bones 2 EJs Q 3 Texas Rib Rangers 4 Smoke and Spice 5 Firehouse-BBQ.com 6 Ulcer Acres BBQ 7 Porkfect Storm 8 Xtreme BBQ 9 Bill and the Dixie Chick 10 Weapons of Mass BBQ Ribs: 1 Smoke and Spice 2 EJs Q 3 Ulcer Acres BBQ 4 Bill and the Dixie Chick 5 learn2q.com 6 Florida Skin N Bones 7 Firehouse-BBQ.com 8 Weapons of Mass BBQ 9 Xtreme BBQ 10 Barnwood Barbecue Pork: 1 Florida Skin N Bones 2 Bill and the Dixie Chick 3 Firehouse-BBQ.com 4 learn2q.com 5 Smoke and Spice 6 EJs Q 7 Sum Ding Wong 8 Texas Rib Rangers 9 Ulcer Acres BBQ 10 Barnwood Barbecue Brisket: 1 Firehouse-BBQ.com 2 Ulcer Acres BBQ 3 Barnwood Barbecue 4 Weapons of Mass BBQ 5 Bill and the Dixie Chick 6 Smoke and Spice 7 learn2q.com 8 EJs Q 9 Florida Skin N Bones 10 Porkfect Storm CONGRATULATIONS to Ulcer Acres BBQ Catering & Competition Team! *************************************** Upcoming Backyard Contests... ~ No more scheduled for 2007. Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ No more scheduled for 2007. *************************************** If you have a BBQ related news item you would like to share with the group, be sure to send it in! There is an easy-to-use 'Submit News' button on our website at http://www.ILBBQS.com ...use it often! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Carpe 'Que, Jim 'Rhino' Reincke