The ninth annual Capital City Cook-Off and the Buck-a-Bone barbecue and rib competition fundraiser has been scheduled for Friday, April 24, in Jefferson City.
This event is a rib lover's dream - or a vegetarian's nightmare - where local businesses and amateur barbecuers will roast up to 12,000 ribs for up to 1,400 people. The cost to enter is $15 at the gate, or potential attendees can purchase tickets at any of the event sponsors listed at capitalcitycookoff.org. There is also a special for 10 tickets for $120.
"It is a great community event, and it kind of kicks off the summer events in Jefferson City," said Stacey Backues, a lifelong barbecue enthusiast and event worker. "I have been a part of it since the beginning, and basically it started with six or seven guys that really liked to cook and we wanted to bring an event to Jefferson City and do a fundraiser in the process. I have enjoyed every minute of it. It is a great community event, and it has lots of great sponsors going to a great cause."
The proceeds for the ticket sales are donated to the Special Learning Center. The price to compete is $150 per team, which covers the cost of the 20-30 slabs of ribs for each team to cook. Any profits that come from team entree fees will also go to the center, Backues said. The event holders preferred all teams to be registered by Monday since space is limited and so the ribs can be purchased in advance, Backues said.
Three years ago, the event spanned multiple days and welcomed not only amateur but professional barbecuers to compete, cooking the standards on the Kansas City circuit: chicken, ribs, pork butt and brisket. But, after some research, the organizers discovered limiting the event to one day and foregoing the professional class resulted in less work, less overhead and more proceeds for the center, Backues said.
There will also be a raffle at the event for a Weber four-burner gas grill, $300 Hy-Vee gift card for a meat bundle, Kansas City Chiefs football tickets and a Chiefs tailgating package including a beer cooler, stadium blanket and a cooler stool. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased at the Hy-Vee customer service desk.
Last year's best ribs winner was Winge Masonry, with Prison Brews in second place. Backues said people are more than welcome to bring their kids and a big appetite to find out who will be this year's champion.
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