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The Vernon Parish Fair Board will be hosting its inaugural Chill and Grill, a barbeque cooking competition, April 30 at the Vernon Parish Fairgrounds. The event is free for competitors and the public alike, said fair board representative and event chairman Daryl Hinson.
Everything at the event is free, said Hinson, except what the vendors might sell in way of crafts and what the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office cooks for lunch. There is no admission charge, no charge to barbeque, no charge to sample the cooking and no vendor charge.
"Our objective is not necessarily to make money," Hinson added. "We have money that we have garnered from fair admissions and building rentals, which are to be used to improve and maintain the grounds." The board has also decided to spend the money on events like these. "The fair board wants to provide wholesome entertainment for the people of Vernon Parish at the fairgrounds. The board feels like the fairgrounds are under utilized, and we're searching for more things for the people of Vernon Parish to do out there."
Hinson said the fair board is hoping to make the competition an annual event, with a long-range goal of being sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the world's largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts with over 14,000 members worldwide. KCBS sanctions over 300 barbeque contests coast-to-coast throughout America. According to Hinson, an entire subculture travels the United States to attend similar events. A sanction from KCBS would put the Vernon Parish event on the same list, providing more contestants, which in turn provides more prize money, attracting still more contestants.
But there are a number of hurdles the fair board must successfully navigate before KCSB will santion the event, said Hinson. Chief among those requirements is certification of the judges, which involves the judges attending school. This year, the goal is simply to get the ball rolling, and, of course, to have a good time.
And according to Hinson, there will be plenty of opportunity for that, including the chance to sample all the barbeque and vote for the people's choice award, the prize for which is a custom made barbeque pit.
Also on tap is a group of cowboy shooters performing several shooting skits throughout the day, live music, craft vendors, inflatables for the children, free balloons and free face painting, with funnel cakes, candied apples and snow cones available to complement the varied barbeque flavors.
At 4 p.m. various clubs will begin launching rockets. Fired by electrical spark, the rockets propel themselves up to about 800 feet, then release a parachute to float back down to be fired again. Rocketry is a learning experience for physics, math and science, and a number of organizations, including Boy Scouts and 4-H, have members who are exploring the topic. Hinson said those who need a rocket to shoot can call him.
Hinson said the fair board is also earnestly seeking volunteers of all ages for subcommittees, including music, food and games, to help make the events possible. Volunteers might be asked to perform a broad range of activities, such as man an information booth, coordinate a battle of the bands or coordinate food vendors.
"We need people that can face paint and blow balloons up," he said. The tasks are more leg work than anything, he added, since the sheriff's department would be providing much of the labor.
The event opens to the public at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Cooks, who will be treated to a free breakfast, can begin arriving as early as 5:30 a.m. to begin competing for more than $1,500 worth of prizes, including cash and trophies, to be handed out at 2 p.m. First, second and third place will be awarded in four categories: chicken and "other"; pork ribs; pork shoulder or butt; and brisket.
The application deadline for competitors is officially April 15, but it's not a firm deadline.
"We'll take pits all the way up to the last minute," Hinson added. "We have plenty of room." Overnight slots are available to those who want to set up the night before.
Rules are closely aligned to the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Rules and entry forms are available at the Vernon Parish Police Jury Office or online at www.vppjla.com.
For more information contact Hinson at 397-2026.
The Vernon Parish Fair Board will be hosting its inaugural Chill and Grill, a barbeque cooking competition, April 30 at the Vernon Parish Fairgrounds. The event is free for competitors and the public alike, said fair board representative and event chairman Daryl Hinson.
Everything at the event is free, said Hinson, except what the vendors might sell in way of crafts and what the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office cooks for lunch. There is no admission charge, no charge to barbeque, no charge to sample the cooking and no vendor charge.
"Our objective is not necessarily to make money," Hinson added. "We have money that we have garnered from fair admissions and building rentals, which are to be used to improve and maintain the grounds." The board has also decided to spend the money on events like these. "The fair board wants to provide wholesome entertainment for the people of Vernon Parish at the fairgrounds. The board feels like the fairgrounds are under utilized, and we're searching for more things for the people of Vernon Parish to do out there."
Hinson said the fair board is hoping to make the competition an annual event, with a long-range goal of being sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the world's largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts with over 14,000 members worldwide. KCBS sanctions over 300 barbeque contests coast-to-coast throughout America. According to Hinson, an entire subculture travels the United States to attend similar events. A sanction from KCBS would put the Vernon Parish event on the same list, providing more contestants, which in turn provides more prize money, attracting still more contestants.
But there are a number of hurdles the fair board must successfully navigate before KCSB will santion the event, said Hinson. Chief among those requirements is certification of the judges, which involves the judges attending school. This year, the goal is simply to get the ball rolling, and, of course, to have a good time.
And according to Hinson, there will be plenty of opportunity for that, including the chance to sample all the barbeque and vote for the people's choice award, the prize for which is a custom made barbeque pit.
Also on tap is a group of cowboy shooters performing several shooting skits throughout the day, live music, craft vendors, inflatables for the children, free balloons and free face painting, with funnel cakes, candied apples and snow cones available to complement the varied barbeque flavors.
At 4 p.m. various clubs will begin launching rockets. Fired by electrical spark, the rockets propel themselves up to about 800 feet, then release a parachute to float back down to be fired again. Rocketry is a learning experience for physics, math and science, and a number of organizations, including Boy Scouts and 4-H, have members who are exploring the topic. Hinson said those who need a rocket to shoot can call him.
Hinson said the fair board is also earnestly seeking volunteers of all ages for subcommittees, including music, food and games, to help make the events possible. Volunteers might be asked to perform a broad range of activities, such as man an information booth, coordinate a battle of the bands or coordinate food vendors.
"We need people that can face paint and blow balloons up," he said. The tasks are more leg work than anything, he added, since the sheriff's department would be providing much of the labor.
The event opens to the public at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Cooks, who will be treated to a free breakfast, can begin arriving as early as 5:30 a.m. to begin competing for more than $1,500 worth of prizes, including cash and trophies, to be handed out at 2 p.m. First, second and third place will be awarded in four categories: chicken and "other"; pork ribs; pork shoulder or butt; and brisket.
The application deadline for competitors is officially April 15, but it's not a firm deadline.
"We'll take pits all the way up to the last minute," Hinson added. "We have plenty of room." Overnight slots are available to those who want to set up the night before.
Rules are closely aligned to the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Rules and entry forms are available at the Vernon Parish Police Jury Office or online at www.vppjla.com.
For more information contact Hinson at 397-2026.
