Barbecue aficionados have come to anticipate a lateseason bonanza of points up for grabs in one of the cooking circuit’s smallest venues— Spur, population 1,187.
Four years ago, when local ’cue chef Reid Arnold and his wife, Betsy, suggested a cookoff as a potential fund-raiser for the city’s shuttered swimming pool, a June weekend provided the right opening, and the Big Dog BBQ Cook-off was born.
The event drew dozens of cook teams to Spur’s Swenson Park, and a variety of other fun activities were tacked on.
This year, Dickens County cryptocurrency mining firm has pledged to rebuild the city’s swimming pool, and while work on that project won’t be complete by June, the historic WPA-era bathhouse, restored with funds raised locally in prior years, will be.
The cook-off event will return to Swenson Park Friday and Saturday, June 24–25, 2022, with a twist that’s sure to please cookers: 100% payout of the total registration fees as prize money.
Also on Saturday night, the popular barn dance returns. The Spur Area Chamber of Commerce will head up the sidelight events, while Betsy Arnold will once again serve as liaison with the IBCA and registrar for cook teams.
The cost to enter is $150 for three meat categories (chicken, pork ribs, and brisket), with the total prize pot dependent on the number of registrants. There will also be a bring-your-own-ribeye steak cook-off Friday night.
As customary, locals aged 18 and above are invited to serve as tasting judges. Call the Chamber office at (806) 271-3097 to schedule one or more judging slots.
Judging four meats will call for nearly 100 judges for preliminary and final rounds, according to IBCA rules.
Watch for details on the event’s Facebook page at @ BigDogSpur.
Volunteers are also needed for setup, cleanup, and leadership of other related events. Those interested should email spurchamber1929@gmail.com for more information.
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