Big Dog returns for 7th annual BBQ Cook-off June 23–24

Barbecue aficionados have come to anticipate a late-season bonanza of points up for grabs in one of the cooking circuit’s smallest venues, Spur.

This year, the IBCA-sanctioned event returns to Spur’s Swenson Park with a change in location. The Friday night cooks’ meeting and Saturday tasting, judging and awards will take place in the golf course clubhouse at the east end of the part, according to organizer Betsy Arnold. The Swenson Park show barn, home to the event since 2018, had been rented out by a prviate party before the cook-off reached out to reserve its customary date, Arnold said.

Representatives of the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce, whichhasorganized food and merchandise vendors and sold T-shirts as a fund-raiser in previous years, said there will not be a location available for those activities this year. On the upside, according to Spur city council, it’s expected that public restrooms will be operational in the newly renovated Spur Pool Bathhouse in time for the cookoff.

Reservations for cook teams and barbecue judges, as well as collection of registration fees and disbursement of prize money, will all be handled via the Spur Golf Association this year, Arnold said. Any proceeds above the payouts will go to benefit the Golf Association.

Arnold did not yet have a count cook teams as of this week. “They tend to sign up at the last minute,” she said. She also noted that organization of a rival sanctioning organization might have some impact on the number of participants this year—but Spur maintains a highly desirable slot in IBCA’s calendar, which should bring back many veteran cookers.

An effort to designate several IBCA events in Texas as “official” events has been submitted to the governor’s office, with Spur a possible candidate, said Arnold. Approval of a proclamation by the governor would pave the way for winners in designated events to qualify for the annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City — a feather in any cooker’s cap.

The cost to enter is $200 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-yourown- ribeye steak cook-off Friday night, with a registration fee of $25.

The signup link is https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/1D68DEFBl2Og ShzVJ9QNge8in-610toBJ-3YD2dPEwb0/ viewform?edit_ requested=true Those interested may also contact Shelly Marshall at (806) 422-1104 or shelly. marshall20@yahoo.com.