July 1, 2009 Howdy BBQ Gang! Welcome to the unpredictable, wild and mildly remunerative world of the Illinois BBQ Society's Weekly(ish) eNewsletter. Thanks to your double-opt-in subscription; you'll now be receiving regular to semi-regular emails from ILBBQS. Perhaps even a random delivery or two to keep you on your toes. You might want to alert your spam nanny so that valuable information and critical news release information are not unduly delayed. Now to the good stuff. Here's what's going on the world of the Illinois BBQ Society... ~ Happy Independence Day! Let's remember and appreciate. ~ Fire Up Your Grill for Watseka Firefest - THIS WEEKEND! ~ Mineral Village Days BBQ Backyard Challenge ~ St. Mary's AutumFest BBQ Cook-Off ~ "In the Heat of Battle" Competition BBQ Boot Camp / Cooking Class ~ Upcoming Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ Upcoming MBN Contests... ~ Upcoming Classes... ***NEW LISTING!!*** For additional information on these stories, and more, be sure to visit the Illinois BBQ Society online at http://www.ILBBQS.com . x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: All those who support the UNITED STATES SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. On this Independence Day weekend, please take a moment to reflect on the victories that have been realized, and those yet to come, that has made the United States the land of the free and the home of the brave. May God Bless ALL who serve and have served to protect our freedoms! The Star Spangled Banner Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In fully glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution! No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust": And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x Fire Up Your Grill for Watseka Firefest - Backyard Contest - THIS WEEKEND!! Watseka, Illinois will be hosting this fun event on Saturday, July 4th and will feature the following categories: BLOODY MARYS, HAMBURGERS, ANYTHING GOES, and RIBS. $15.00 Entry Fee for Each Category OR $50.00 FOR ALL 4. In order to be eligible for GRAND CHAMPION, contestants MUST ENTER ALL 4 EVENTS. GRAND CHAMPION $100.00 & TROPHY 1ST PLACE EACH CATEGORY $50 & TROPHY 2ND PLACE EACH CATEGORY $25 & RIBBON 3RD PLACE EACH CATEGORY RIBBON For more information, contact: Kristie Cheatum at 815-579-9084 *************************************** Mineral Village Days BBQ Backyard Challenge Contest Organizer, Sue McCauley, has reported that all is on track and running smoothly for the First Annual Mineral Village Days BBQ Backyard Challenge, coming up the second weekend in August. They now have a website dedicated to both the contest and the overall event where prospective amateur teams and spectators alike can get the latest information on the event. Be sure to surf over to http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/mineralvillagedays and check out all the fun activities that will be taking place August 8th & 9th! *************************************** St. Mary's AutumFest BBQ Cook-Off After a very positive and successful preliminary meeting, organizers and volunteers of the long running St. Mary's AutumFest, in Centralia, Illinois, are off and running with adding a backyard barbeque competition to this time honored festival in South Central Illinois. Scheduled for September 19th, 2009, the contest is shaping up to be a 3 category, 1 day contest; and is being held in conjunction with the parish festival to benefit the elementary school and church. Live music, lot's of food and family activities, mass on Saturday, and a good time are sure to be had in this historic town of around 14,000 people. Though still in the early stages, organizers say this year's contest will be limited to 10 teams and will soon have an application available for team sign-up. Should you want additional information, before the application becomes available, please visit the 'Contest/Events' page for contact information. *************************************** "In the Heat of Battle" Competition BBQ Boot Camp / Cooking Class Would like to learn secrets of Competition BBQ Cooking? Here is a rare opportunity for you to have an ALL ACCESS 'Backstage' Pass to join our award winning competition team for one of the BIGGEST DUAL SANCTIONED BARBEQUE CONTESTS OF THE YEAR! September 24th - 26th, 2009 marks the 22nd Annual Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off in Murphysboro, Illinois. This contest is sponsored by the world famous 17th Street Bar & Grill and will feature a virtual Who's Who in Competition Barbeque. This Nationally Recognized Competition is sanctioned by both the Kansas City BBQ Society and the Memphis BBQ Network! Bandit BBQ Crew is offering only a handful of spots on their team for this one-of-a-kind barbecue experience. Who knows, this may also give you the opportunity to meet some of the biggest names on the U.S. Barbeque Circuit! This rare opening to experience a no-holds-barred competition encounter is only available to a handful of people and will be first come, first served! From Set-Up to Tear-Down, Meat Selection to Preparation and Cooking Techniques for Pork Butt, Chicken, Pork Ribs, and Beef Brisket...You'll have an exclusive behind-the-scenes, inside look at ALL the 'what-for', 'why', and 'how-to' of the Professional Competition Barbeque World! This is a Hands-On Experience! You will get the opportunity to help prep the meats for competition, decide on which cuts make it to the Certified BBQ Judges, and share in the glory of any 'calls' we may receive...YOU'LL BE PART OF THE TEAM! Price includes all eats and non-alcoholic beverages (this is a BYOB event, but if you bring alcohol, feel free to bring enough to share with the rest of the team) for the duration of the contest, 'Pit Passes' to Access All Areas of our Cook Site, an Official Bandit BBQ Crew T-Shirt, Certificate of Survival, and All the Insider's Secrets of what has helped us to be so successful on the National Competition Barbecue Circuit! Class Info: September 24th - 26th ~ "In the Heat of Battle" Competition Boot Camp - Cost: $150 - Instructor: Jim 'Rhino' Reincke, Crew Chief of Bandit BBQ Crew - Location: Murphysboro, IL Barbecue Cook-Off - Email: rhino@banditbbq.com - Online: http://www.BanditBBQ.com/join.htm *************************************** Upcoming 2009 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ July 4th - Big Dick's BBQ Cook-Off At The Lake - Centralia, Illinois - Contact: Richard "Dick" O'Dell, 6339 Marshall Creek Rd, Odin, IL. 62870 - Phone: 618-780-8847 - E-mail: K9Dozer@gmail.com ~ July 4th - Fire Up Your Grill for Watseka Firefest - Backyard Contest - Watseka, Illinois - Contact: Kristie Cheatum at 815-579-9084 or Email: illianbackyardfun@sbcglobal.net ~ July 18th - Shooter's Sports Bar Bar-B-Que Cook-Off - Contact: Diana Jacobs, 1829 South Pine, Centralia, Illinois 62801 - Phone: 618-532-9931 - E-mail: lovethedew3@yahoo.com ~ August 1 - Alma/Salem, IL - 3rd Annual Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Jim Reincke at 618-407-3300 - Online: http://www.gosalem.com/holysmoke - E-mail: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ August 21-22 - St. Peter, IL - Contact: John Lotz @ 618-553-5585 ~ E-mail: lotztrucking@frontiernet.net - Jay Chapman @ 618-553-8311 - or Matt Hoover @ 618-322-0708 ~ September 5 - Buffalo Grove Days BBQ Challenge - CContact: Chuck Posniak, 401 South Central Street, Mineral, Illinois 61344 - Phone: 847-541-8482 - E-mail: cposniak@att.net ~ September 19th - St. Mary's AutumFest Cook-Off - Contact: Ronnie Langenfeld, Centralia, Illinois 62801 - Phone: 618-322-0732 - E-mail: langenfeldhomeinspections@yahoo.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. *************************************** Upcoming 2009 KCBS Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ July 10 & 11 - 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 24 to 26 - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: catering17@egyptian.com ~ October 9 & 10 - Super City Blues & Ques - Contact: Priscilla Abell, 106 W. 5th Street, Metropolis, IL 62960 - Phone: 618-524-1696 Fax: 618-524-2582 - Email: metropolisparks@verizon.net ~ October 16 & 17 - King City BBQ Showdown - Contact: Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 - Phone: - E-mail: ~ October 16 & 17 - Barn Burner BarBQ at 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 ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. *************************************** Upcoming 2009 Memphis BBQ Network Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ September 11 & 12 - Wabash Ribberfest State Barbecue Championship, Contact: Chuck Johnson, 5 Lambert Place, Mt. Carmel, IL 62863, Phone: 618-262-6822, Email: cjohnson@shawneelink.net ~ September 24 to 26 - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: catering17@egyptian.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. *************************************** Upcoming Certified BBQ Judge's and Certified Table Captain's Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ None currently scheduled. (That I know of...if you know of any, let me know!) *************************************** Upcoming BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ September 24th - 26th ~ "In the Heat of Battle" Competition Boot Camp - Cost: $150 - Instructor: Jim 'Rhino' Reincke, Crew Chief of Bandit BBQ Crew - Location: Murphysboro, IL Barbecue Cook-Off - Email: rhino@banditbbq.com - Online: http://www.BanditBBQ.com/join.htm *************************************** These stories, and more, can be found online at http://www.ILBBQS.com . Most of the stories online have active links for ease of finding more information...be sure to visit the website for your full ILBBQS experience! 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! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino