Knights of Columbus 1st Annual BBQ Competition set for August 17 in Malta

A total of 15-rough and tumble brisket barbequing "chefs" will head to downtown Malta this Saturday to square-off in the First Annual Knights of Columbus BBQ Competition, perched on Front Street between Family Matters and the Mint Bar, on a day that will include music, vendors, games, food and drinks and much more.

The First Annual Knights of Columbus BBQ Competition is an undertaking spearheaded by Jory Schipman, but Brenda Rummel came up with the idea after attending a nearby event similar to the new Malta competition.

"She thought it would be a great idea if I would take the lead and let 'er rip," Schipman, Malta Knights of Columbus Grand Knight, said. "I figured, beam me up Scotty, and I have been at it since April. It has been a lot of planning and a lot of details to cover, but it's a fundraiser so all the work is well worth it."

Half of the proceeds made from the BBQ Competition will be given to the Hi-Line Future Foundation and the other half will be given to other charities and organizations in Phillips County.

For the cooks at the event, those brave souls will show up at around 6 a.m. to get the BBQ burning. Schipman said that for the general public, burgers and hotdogs will be for sale at about 10 a.m. The BBQ briskets will be done at 5:15 p.m. and the judging will begin by a secret panel of five judges. The Barbeque Brisket Meal for the day - which will include baked beans and coleslaw - will be served at 5:30 p.m.

"The judging will focus on presentation, appearance, tenderness, and taste," Schipman said. "I am excited to see how everyone does."

The first prize winning team on the day will receive a cool $1,000, second place will get $500, and third place gets $300.

As of the time of printing, the teams for the competition will be: Raiders Barbie-Q's (Nikki Weiss); Malta Fire Department (Lance Henderson); Casual Smokers (Cohen Ereaux); Power Commodity (Steve Cole); Burnt Trees BBQ (Nick Holman); Stoughies Bar & Grill (Ron Stough); US Border Patrol (Adrian Constante); Malta Shriners (Ross Simser); Dish'n It Up (Eric Wilke); Second Hand Smokers (Tony Sather); Burnt Brisket (Matt Sudan); Team Townsend (Martin Townsend); Cutters Last BBQ Stand (Shane Carnahan); Rubbin Butts BBQ (Daniel Horn), and Happy Ending (Jim Truelove).

The day will also feature silent auctions, 50-50 split the pot, a cornhole tournament, and a Traeger grill auction. Any vendors interested in attending the day's event are encouraged to call Schipman at 654-7097.