Wild West BBQ Cook-Off -2019 Contest Winners

Served by Royalty

“Twenty-eight contests signed up for this year’s Wild West BBQ Cook-Off this year and that’s one more than we had last year,” stated Cindy Bennett, one of the organizers of the event that has been held for the past fifteen years in Lamar. She added the contest needs a minimum of 25 entries in order to be official sanctioned for the annual event that has been held at Willow Creek Park in Lamar.  The contest offers a total of $10,000 in cash prizes to various levels which helps attract a good number of serious competitors.

There was a new element offered this year, an opportunity to purchase savory samples of the BBQ from some of the participating contestants. A $5 purchase got you six samples of barbecued pork, served up by Sand and Sage Royalty.  Over the years, the general public had hoped to be able to buy plates of the BBQ, but the contestants are not in town to sell their wares, but to win the contest.  Various health regulations and local licensing requirements are a rung in the ladder they don’t intend to climb.  There were, however, three commercial BBQ concerns at the park that managed to keep people from going hungry.

Salida Circus was in Town

Another new event this year was entertainment provided by members of the Salida Circus on Saturday, May 11^th.

Grand Champion, 2019

BBQ COOK-OFF

Grand Champion-Bushmaster-Chris Webb-Denver, Colorado
Reserve Champion-Parrothead Smokers-John Nilges-Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
Third Place-Woody’s Q Shack-Kyle Woodward-Alamosa, Colorado

Reserve Champion, 2019

BILL MAES GREEN CHILI CONTEST (prizes provided by Las Brisas and A & B Liquor)

First Place-Dennis Barnum-Lamar, Colorado (winner of $125)
Second Place-Darrell Pool-Lamar, Colorado (winner of $75)
Third Place-Jeremiah Rodgers-Hogg Troff BBQ-Springfield, Colorado

BBQ SAUCE

Vogt BBQ-Dan Vogt-Aurora, Colorado

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Q Live Crew-Dean Montgomery-Steamboat Springs, Colorado

By Russ Baldwin