KCBS is looking to Certify Judges in Pleasant Hill
By Connie Whitlock
Publishing Editor
If you’ve ever sat down to a plate of barbecue and had strong opinions about the chicken, ribs, pork or brisket, there’s a class coming to Pleasant Hill that might be right up your alley.
And yes, becoming an official barbecue judge is a real thing.
Pleasant Hill will host a Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Barbeque Judge class on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Methodist church on Lexington Road. The goal is to get more local residents certified and ready to help judge KCBS-sanctioned competitions ,including one held right here in Pleasant Hill each fall.
Pleasant Hill is home to one of the largest KCBS-sanctioned backyard barbecue competitions, and organizers would like to see more Pleasant Hillers sitting at the judging tables.
Bunny Tuttle and her granddaughter Mika recently created a fun video to help spread the word about the upcoming class and show people what becoming a certified barbecue judge is all about.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1071864525307631
During the class, participants learn how KCBS competitions are judged, including how to evaluate four of barbecue’s biggest categories: chicken, ribs, pork and brisket.
Once certified, judges aren’t limited to Pleasant Hill. KCBS-sanctioned competitions are held around the world, and certified judges can sign up for opportunities to judge them. Certification doesn’t guarantee you’ll be selected for every contest, but it gives you the credentials needed to apply to judge KCBS events wherever they’re held.
The Certified Barbeque Judge class costs $125.
For those interested in taking their involvement a step further, a Table Captain class will be offered immediately following the judging class. Table captains help manage the judging table and the competition judging process. The cost to take both classes is $200.
Participants must first be members of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Membership is $50 and can be obtained through KCBS.
Registration for the Pleasant Hill classes is available through Downtown Pleasant Hill by selecting the ticket option.
So, if you love barbecue, want to learn what separates good competition barbecue from award-winning barbecue, and wouldn’t mind having an official reason to eat chicken, ribs, pork and brisket, Pleasant Hill is looking for you.
The ultimate goal is simple: when barbecue teams roll into Pleasant Hill this fall, organizers want plenty of hometown judges ready to take their seats at the table.