February 15, 2010 Hello BBQ Gang! Welcome to the unpredictable Illinois BBQ Society's Weekly(ish) eNewsletter. Thanks to your double-opt-in subscription; you're now 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... ~ Randolph County Pig Party Giving Away $10,000 Prize Purse ~ 2010 Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition ~ Upcoming Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ Upcoming KCBS Contests... ~ Upcoming MBN Contests... ~ Upcoming Classes... 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-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: "In the Heat of Battle" Competition BBQ Boot Camp - http://www.TheBBQBootCamp.com After a successful (and sold-out) BBQ Boot Camp in Murphysboro last year, we're now set to roll out bigger BBQ Boot Camps for 2010! You will have the opportunity to experience a full-on, world-class barbecue competition FROM THE INSIDE! Join Bandit BBQ Crew for an ALL ACCESS glimpse into the Professional BBQ Competition arena as a fully fledged member of their Pit Crew. This totally hands-on experience is only available to a few select individuals who are willing to learn the secrets of prepping, smoking, and presenting award winning competition style barbeque in a real life Kansas City BBQ Society Sanctioned (KCBS) Competition. Battle dates have been expanded to include at least 2 KCBS Sanctioned Contests for 2010. July 2nd & 3rd - The Best Dam BBQ Cookoff @ Rend Lake, Illinois; and October 2nd & 3rd - The American Royal @ Kansas City, Missouri. As of this newsletter, ONLY 4 SPOTS REMAIN FOR REND LAKE AND 4 SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE AMERICAN ROYAL...Don't miss out on this experience of a lifetime! For additional information, visit http://www.TheBBQBootCamp.com to find out how you to can learn the secrets of the pros! x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x Randolph County Pig Party Giving Away $10,000 Prize Purse This just in from Curt Jeffers, Organizer of the Randolph County Pig Party: "Plans are definitely underway for the 2010 Randolph County Pig Party. We have received an e-mail from KCBS That our dates have been approved and sanctioning has been granted. This years dates are May 14th and 15th and will be held again in downtown Steeleville, Illinois; with a prize purse of $10,000! For additional information on this very popular downstate contest, contact Curt Jeffers at 618-965-9615 (email: curtislo@egyptian.net) or Jason Vallett  at 618-965-3414 (email: jason@gregvallettautosales.com).    ************************************************************** 2010 Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition The Fifth Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at the Harvard Moose Lodge in Harvard, IL. Outdoor grilling enthusiasts are encouraged participate. Put a team together, come out and show off your talents for outdoor cooking. Deadline for entries is May 22, 2010. Early Registration (postmarked before April 1, 2010) - $25 per team Registration after April 1, 2010 - $40.00 per team Set up will begin at 8:00 a.m. The judging will begin at approximately 3:00 p.m. Judging is based on taste (counts double), texture and appearance. There will be a cash prize awarded for first, second and third place in each category. A trophy and additional cash prize await the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. Only those teams competing in all four categories (Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers, Chicken, Pork and Ribs) are eligible for Grand and Reserve Grand Champion awards. First Place in each category - $125 Second Place in each category - $35 Third Place in each category - $15 Grand Champion - $125 AND Trophy Reserve Grand Champion - $75 AND Trophy For more information, contact the Milk Days Office at 815-943-4614 or go to www.milkdays.com . Any questions may be directed to Doug Hawthorne at foodman52@aol.com . Detailed rules will be sent to each registered participant. ************************************************************** Do you know of some barbeque event, contest, class, or function going on in Illinois, or the surrounding areas? Let us know! ************************************************************** Upcoming 2010 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ February 14th - 2010 Winter Burn-Off & Chili Cook-Off - Contact: Keith Engstrom, 915 Second Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60016 - Phone: (847) 312-4053 - E-mail: rekengstr@ameritech.net ~ May 29th - Harvard, Illinois ~ 5th Annual Milk Days Outdoor Grilling Competition ~ Contact: Doug Hawthorne ~ Phone: 815-943-4614 ~ Email: foodman52@aol.com ~ August 7th - Alma, Illinois ~ 4th Annual Holy Smoke Backyard BBQ Cook-Off @ Orchard View Winery ~ Contact: Jim Rhino ~ Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ Email: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ September 18th - Glen Ellyn Backyard Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Tom Koprowski, Glen Ellyn, Illinois - Phone: 630-890-0465 - Email: koprowski1@sbcglobal.net ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** Upcoming 2010 KCBS Contests... (All info & web addresses are posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ April 23 & 24 ~ Hazelwood, Missouri ~ 2010 Kick-Off Cookoff Classic ~ Greg Wilkinson, 2680 Narraganset, Florissant, MO 63033 ~ Phone: 314-955-1104 ~ E-Mail: gawilk@swbell.net ~ May 14 & 15 ~ Steeleville, Illinois ~ The Randolph County Pig Party ~ Contact: Curt Jeffers or Jason Vallett, 402 E. Broadway, Steeleville, IL 62288 ~ Phone: 618-965-9615 or 618-965-3414 ~ Fax: 618-965-3177 ~ Email: Curt @ curtislo@egyptian.net or Jason @ jason@gregvallettautosales.com ~ June 4 & 5 - Taylorville Main Street Barbeque Blues and Cruise - Contact: Paul Mizeur, 108 W Market / PO Box 350, Taylorville, IL 62568 - Phone: 217-287-1876 Fax: 217-287-1876 - Email: paul.mizeur@usbank.com ~ July 2 & 3 - The Best Dam BBQ Cookoff Benton-West City, IL - Contact: Charles Cockrum , 211 N Main St., Benton, IL 62812 - Phone: 618-927-6157 - Email: bestdambbq@gmail.com ~ July 9 & 10 - 20th Annual 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: connieroethesmith@yahoo.com ~ September 10 & 11 - Smoke on the River Quincy, IL - Contact: Mel Dillman, 523 South 8th St, Quincy, IL 62301 - Phone: 217-228-1208 - Fax: 217-228-1976 - Email: mdillman5905@sbcglobal.net ~ September 10 & 11 - Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship Mt. Carmel, IL - Contact: Colette Grigsby, 9403 Sand Barrens Lane, St. Francisville, IL 62460 - Phone: 618-262-4339 -Fax: 618-262-4339 - Email: gcysmith@shawneelink.net ~ September 24 & 25 - Murphysboro Barbeque Cook-Off - Contact: Gary Strothmann, PO Box 382, Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Phone: 618-684-8902, Fax: 618-687-4311 - Email: becky@17thstreetbarbecue.com ~ October 8 & 9 - 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 ~ 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 24 to 25 - 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) ~ April 1st, 2010 ~ Belleville, Illinois (Near St. Louis) ~ Instructor: Mike Lake ~ Contact Information: Dennis Keck, Phone: 618-277-4444, keckjewelers@gmail.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** Upcoming BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ Westmont, Illinois ~ 02/19/10 to 02/20/10 ~ Instructors: Scottie Johnson & Mike Wozniac ~ Contact Information: Scottie Johnson ~ Phone: 630-988-0526 ~ Email: scottie@cancersuckschicago.com ~ Rend Lake, Illinois ~ 07/02/10 to 07/03/10 ~ The Best Dam BBQ Cookoff ~ Instructor: Jim 'Rhino' Reincke ~ Contact Information: Jim Rhino ~ Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ Email: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ Kansas City, Missouri ~ 10/02/10 to 10/03/10 ~ The American Royal BBQ Contest ~ Instructor: Jim 'Rhino' Reincke ~ Contact Information: Jim Rhino ~ Phone: 618-407-3300 ~ Email: rhino@banditbbq.com ~ Please check http://www.ILBBQS.com for current updates. ************************************************************** 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! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino