Hello BBQ Gang! Here's what's going on in the world of the Illinois BBQ Society... ~ Smokey J's BBQ Contest Anatomy ~ Part 5 of 5 ~ LeRoy, Illinois Backyard Contest and Festival Cancelled ~ News Submission Page on ILBBQS.com ~ Taylorville, Illinois' 2008 BBQ, Blues & Cruise Now Online ~ Google Earth Your Way to an Event ~ KCBS' Marketing Company Looking for Cook Teams ~ Randolf County Pig Party Bigger Than Ever ~ Upcoming Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ Upcoming Classes... x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival ~ Wamac, Illinois While only a handful of spots remain for barbeque teams (check the fill-up status on our website), we are extending the 'early bird' discount to ILBBQS and/or KCBS members through Wednesday, April 30th Only. The fun is about to begin for live music, raffles, motorcycle show, softball tournament, beverage gardens, kids activities and MORE! May 2nd & 3rd are the dates and Wamac, Illinois is the place for this KCBS Sanctioned event that holds a State Proclamation for making it a State Championship contest (first of the year in Illinois), and a Qualifier for The Jack and The Royal. The Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival is being produced as a benefit for local non-profit and charitable organizations. Contact: Shane Swartzlander Email: 2chubby@sbcglobal.net Cellular: (618) 204-2523; Home: (618) 533-5703 Online: http://www.GoCentralia.com/springfestival x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x Smokey J's BBQ Contest Anatomy ~ Part 5 of 5 By Jason Duhamell, Owner of Smokey J's BBQ - Mattoon, Illinois Here comes the stress..then the relief..a KCBS Contest Current mood: relieved Well this will be the final blog in the series, it is now turn-in time on Saturday first to go is Chicken six perfect pieces in the box all the same size with the same coloring all facing the same way with some of that pretty green stuff in the background, and they look good Off to my runner to take to the turn-in table my wife is usually my runner but if she is not there I have to do it myself and that is real tough but I will manage. Next up Ribs box should already be prepped cut the ribs make sure to use a real sharp knife and I have also found out you should use ribs in a row from the same rack they look better that way more uniform, I sauce my ribs right before removing from the smoker and then touch up the sauce before putting in the box, now for a little spray of apple juice to make it look shiny for the judges because your meat has to look good as well as taste good. Rib box to Rachel for turn-in on to Pork, remove pork from cooler if you did it right it will be on top start pulling the pork, I like to use large pieces in a nice uniform pile and I also include some bark for each of the 6 judges before it goes in the box I add a little more of my famous rub (No Rhino you can’t have the recipe) and lightly sauce the pork and then into the box with all that pretty green stuff, Run Rachel this one is a little late. Finally Brisket out of the cooler and sliced remember once again use a sharp knife, I put as many slices in the box that fit nicely usually like 10, a little sprits of apple juice and hand the final box off to the runner for the final turn-in. Now the most important part it is over there no more I can do my stress level has receded and I crack open a cold beer and ponder my cooking skills and turn-ins. As I look at my tables there will be a bunch of food left, if there is family and friends present this is when they get to dig in and tell me how good it is, (you don’t think they are going to say it sucked do you, its free food), if there is no family there I break out the vacuum sealer and pack up the leftover meat for snacks during the week. Now to break down the site Rachel and I have this down to a science, load up the trailer and get ready for the award ceremony. At the awards you might get your name called and win some money but if you don’t its ok because I do this because I love it, winning is great but having a great time with friends and family is much better. Time to head back to Mattoon and get some well deserved rest. To follow more of Smokey J's BBQ adventures, or find out more about his catering, contest schedule, check out his MySpace site at http://www.myspace.com/smokeyjsbbq . *************************************** LeRoy, Illinois Backyard Contest and Festival Cancelled Word has come in that the 4th Annual Smokin' in the Park Backyard BBQ Cook-Off has been cancelled for this year.  Despite successful events the past three years, the LBDG AND THE City of LeRoy has cancelled their support of the contest and the festival.  *************************************** News Submission Page on ILBBQS.com With so many new contests coming up in Illinois, and since I cannot make it to all of them, here's a call for help from our membership...SEND IN THE NEWS! Whether it be contest results, contest previews, news about any of our members (or yourself), or anything barbeque related...SEND IN THE NEWS! There is a whole page dedicated to making it easy for you to submit news and information. Check it out at http://www.ILBBQS.com/news/news_submit.htm . *************************************** Taylorville, Illinois' 2008 BBQ, Blues & Cruise Now Online One of Illinois' newest sanctioned contests is now spreading their barbeque love via the internet. The 2008 BBQ, Blues & Cruise, scheduled for May 31st in Taylorville, Illinois, has gone virtual with the unveiling of their new website information at http://www.downtowntaylorville.com/bbq/index.htm . Be sure to click over for a rundown of all the activities taking place in Central Illinois this weekend. They have included vendor information/registration forms, as well as Team Registration for their KCBS Sanctioned / ILBBQS Approved State Championship Barbeque Contest. For those aspiring cooks who may feel they're not quite 'ready for primetime', another highlight of this weekend's events will be a 'backyard' contest for all 'non-pro' teams. For additional information, contact Paul Mizeur, contest organizer, or visit the event's website at  http://www.downtowntaylorville.com/bbq/index.htm *************************************** Google Earth Your Way to an Event Most of you have seen, or at least heard of, GPS technology...right? The ability to punch in the address of 'que joint you're trying to find, in an unfamiliar location, and getting turn-by-turn directions...yes, that GPS. If you've never used this handy tool, then chances are you've tried to get directions from Yahoo! Maps or MapQuest at some point in your internet life. Pretty neat, huh? Okay all you directionally impaired cooks, navigators and wayward tourists...it's time to take your location hunting to the next level. Google Earth is your friend. It is not quite as simple as typing a web address, inputting your destination, and waiting for the one dimensional map to pop-up (as long as you have the right 'plug-in' installed), but it is WAAAY cooler than those other mapping boys. You will need to install a bit of free software on your computer, but the time, and efforts, will be greatly rewarded with the ability to actually SEE your destination in 3D! Go ahead, check it out! Type in your address...SEE your house (and car in the driveway)! Type in Wrigley Field...SEE the cross-cut grass in the outfield! Type in Metropolis, IL...zoom in to SEE the Superman Statue! BBQ Enthusiast Chuck McGhee (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) is creating a Google Earth file that highlights all of the ILBBQS listed events; complete with contact information, mapping capabilities, and 'fly in' views through the FREE Google Earth program. Go ahead, visit the Google Earth site, download their free software, get the location file from ILBBQS.com, and SEE for yourself where you're going to win your next Grand Championship BBQ Contest! (Though not all contest locations are in the ILBBQS Google Earth Database yet, a Huge Thank you to Chuck for all his hard work!) *************************************** KCBS' Marketing Company Looking for Cook Teams (Received via email from MMA Creative) Dear BBQ Teams: With the successful launch of the KCBS Great American BBQ Tour, KCBS and MMA Creative are now looking for additional teams and individuals that may be interested in joining similar tours in the near future. Currently, MMA Creative is planning two additional tours for next year, but they could possibly get launched before 2008 is over! So we are looking for a team/couple/friends that are interested in traveling the country and spreading the gospel of KCBS and BBQ just like Ernie and Linda Poland are doing! If interested, you must be willing and able to travel for several months out of the year (mostly around weekends), and be physically capable of handling the operations of such a tour (driving, moving equipment, cooking/preparing food, etc.). The team must be at least two people, and at least one of the members must be comfortable with public speaking and demonstrating cooking techniques to crowds. Each position offers competitive pay and a per diem, as well as full coverage of travel and lodging expenses. Any interested individuals or teams are encouraged to contact MMA Creative at the following email address: ryana@mmacreative.com. Teams will be interviewed on a first come, first serve basis. *************************************** Randolph County Pig Party Bigger Than Ever Curt Jeffers, organizer of the Randolph County Pig Party in Steeleville, Illinois, has checked in with news that this KCBS Sanctioned State Championship is shaping up to be bigger than ever! May 16th & 17th is promising to bring BIG prize money ($10,000 in 2007), BIG fun, and BIG excitement both Friday and Saturday night. There are a few spots still open for teams and judges, but should be filling up fast. For additional information, contact Curt Jeffers, Randolph County Pig Party, cjeffers@egyptian.net, or call 618-317-3280. *************************************** Upcoming 2008 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ May 24-25, 2008 - Nashville Lion's Club MaiFest - Contact: Rodney Small, Post Office Box 27, Nashville, IL 62263 - Phone: 618-327-3224 Fax: 618-327-8479 - E-mail: drsmall@accessus.net ~ June 14, 2008 - CANCELLED - 4th Annual Smokin' in the Park - Contact: Hap & Becky Zook at 309-266-5078 or Jim & Anita Allen at 309-962-9388 - E-mail: bjzook@verizon.net or jaallen@msn.com ~ June 28, 2008 - 2nd Annual Galesburg Railroad Days Jaycees Rib Cook-Off - Contact: Sherry M. Kincaid - E-mail: ribcookoff@galesburgjaycees.org ~ August 31, 2008 - Kewanee Hog Days - Contact: Janie Metscaviz - Phone: 309-856-6160 - E-mail: mtscvz@yahoo.com ~ October 5, 2008 - Maschhoff's Pork Farm Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Julie Maschhoff, 7475 State Route 127, Carlyle, IL 62231 - Phone: 618-594-2125 - E-mail: juliem@pigsrus.net **NOTE** This contest is only open to 'local' teams...those teams from Marion, Clinton, and Washington Counties in Illinois. *************************************** Upcoming 2008 KCBS Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ May 2-3, 2008 - Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival in Wamac, Illinois - Contact: Shane Swartzlander - Phone: (618) 533-5703 ~ Fax: - Online: http://www.gocentralia.com/springfestival - E-mail: 2chubby@sbcglobal.net ~ May 9-10, 2008 - CANCELLED - Dust Off Your Grill Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Patty Peterson, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. - Phone: 217-258-2424 ~ Fax: 217-258-4135. - E-mail: ppeterson@sblhs.org ~ May 16-17, 2008 - The Randolph County Pig Party - Contact: Jason Vallett, 402 E. Broadway, Steeleville, IL 62288. - Phone: 618-965-3414 ~ Fax: 618-965-3177 - Email: jason@gregvallettautosales.com ~ May 24-25, 2008 - Red, White & Bar-B-Q - Contact: Jim Addington, 337 E. Traube Street, Westmont, IL 60559 - Phone: 630-443-2013 Fax: 630.443-2017 - E-mail: jaddington@ambankqc.com ~ June 13-14, 2008 - King City BBQ Showdown - Contact: Troy Heitmeyer, 104 N. 9th Street, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 - Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ Fax: 618-242-3383 - E-mail: troy@cmacsoft.com ~ June 13-14, 2008 - Elk Grove Rotary Ribfest - Contact: Ron Nunes, 701 E. Irving Park Rd, Ste. 200, Roselle, IL 60172 - Phone: 630-307-8744 ~ Fax: 630-307-8755 - E-mail: rnunes9457@aol.com ~ July 11-12, 2008 - Illinois State Championship & Butt to Butt Pork Invitational - Contact: Connie Smith, 301 E. Sunrise Drive, Shannon, IL 61078 - Phone: 816-864-2542 ~ Fax: 815-864-2825 - E-mail: rrribs@frontiernet.net ~ September 12-13, 2008 - The BBQ Throwdown & Jam - Contact: Jim Reincke, PO Box 924, Salem, IL 62881 - Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ E-mail: bbqthrowdown@gosalem.com ~ September 19-20, 2008 - - Carbondale Main Street Pig Out - Contact: Meghan Cole, 121 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901 - Phone: 618-529-8040 ~ Fax: 618-529-8041 - E-mail: info@carbondalemainstreet.com ~ October 10-11, 2008 - Central Illinois Bragging Rights - Contact: George Fritz, 136 S. Vine Street, Arthur, IL 61911 - Phone: 217-543-2181 - E-mail: bbq@arthuril.com ~ October 17-18, 2008 - Barn Burner BBQ @ Lamb's Farm - Contact: Claudia Stevens, 14245 W. Rockland Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847-990-3750 ~ Fax: 847-362-0742 - E-mail: crs@lambsfarm.org *************************************** Upcoming Certified BBQ Judge's and Certified Table Captain's Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ None Scheduled (That we know of...if you know of an upcoming class, let us know!) *************************************** Upcoming BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ None Scheduled (That we know of...if you know of an upcoming class, let us know!) *************************************** 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! Well folks, that's gonna do it for this year's news and updates. I hope you have a most wonderful, and safe, New Year! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of you down the BBQ trail of 2008! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino