The Event That Tickled Our Ribs

We’ll be honest – we’re still kind of full from the National Championship Barbeque Cookoff in Meridian on Oct. 23. This premier event was only for cooks who had won or placed in recognized barbeque cookoffs during the past year. This year was the largest cookoff in the event’s 30-year history, with 210 teams competing for more than $17,000 in prize money. And it wasn’t just about the food and the prizes — the event benefited nonprofits of Bosque County and provided college scholarships for high school seniors.

As a sponsor of the event, First Choice Power employees were on hand (and mouth) to help judge the brisket, ribs and chicken. Our own Todd Clift was a spotter for the auction, which helped raise that scholarship money.

First Choice Power employee Carmen Carmichael helped judge the chicken. “I never knew there was so many ways to season and smoke a chicken,” she told us. “I tasted it about 20 different ways. Plus we ate a carrot, grape or cracker after each one. When we got done judging we were so full we just walked around hoping the feeling would go away.”

Keith Ramsey, an employee in operations at First Choice Power, helped to judge the ribs. He told us that judging was fun, but his favorite thing was making his way around the grounds where the cooks/teams were and seeing the unique set-ups that they put together.

“I came away pretty full this year as our table judged 21 boxes of ribs,” Keith said. “Most of them were just awesome, but there are always a couple of boxes that I don’t care for. Each team has certain taste they are aiming for, and it just depends on what you like.”

While the weather was cool and drizzly, it couldn’t keep people’s spirit’s down. “The atmosphere at the cook-off is always great,” Keith said. “Everyone is there to have a good time and it seems that you don’t meet a stranger. We enjoyed watching the tractor pull and my daughter did the pony ride.”  

In addition to judging the pork ribs, First Choice Power employee Vickie Rains loved the live music and the car show. “I literally had to drag my husband away from a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, which was the year he was born and was the winner of the event trophy for Best in Show,” Vickie told us. “And we were able to see Templeton Thompson, who is a singer songwriter and one of Nashville’s sought after session vocalists.”

In terms of the ribs she helped judge, Vickie’s favorites were box #10. “I did give thought to how many I could eat while running to the door with the box before they could catch me,” she said. “I am definitely planning on participating again next year.”

Dates haven’t yet been announced for next years’ event, but check back with the National Championship BBQ Cookoff website for more information.