A gastronomical competition? What is more mouth-watering than BBQ? I hear you loud and clear meat lovers all over the world. American Royal World Series of BBQ got you covered, it originated in Kansas City, United States where it all started as a small competition that has become the most single largest barbecue competition event in the world.
Comprising of 400-500 barbecue teams competing in 4 different categories for their own title. It is the most awaited, most grand competition and festival. Where competitive barbecue enthusiast and pit masters flock from all over the world to skillfully showcase their signature sauces, rubs, marinades, techniques, preparations and styles which comes all together through a cook off and only the best of the best will remain to be standing and hit the title Grand Champion.
All kinds of meat and BBQ is presented during the event making it hard for event participants and judges in choosing the finest of them all. Its quite fascinating as well that these teams already has a lot of fans and people who support their favorites since its been a yearly event. The Culinary journey and simultaneous stimuli of tastes never disappoint the crowd. It is not only the hustle and bustle of the cooking competition that livens the event, there is more! live local music, BBQ demos, Delicious BBQ, local food, cocktail garden, beer, BBQ Marketplace vendor fair of authentic local products and a full line up of kids activity.
History
The roots of American Royal before having the barbecue event dated back in 1899 which was known for having the National Hereford Show, selling of purebred cattle. It featured 541 Herefords, with 300 Herefords that has an average selling price of $334. Estimated attendees was 55,000.
A tent in the Kansas City Stockyards, the agricultural hub of the Midwest is where it was held.
A more permanent structure was built in 1908 by the Kansas City Stockyards and became the home of the American Royal until 1922 when the 1st permanent structure solely purposed for the American Royal was built. Tragedy struck the building in 1925 when it burnt down during an auto show, but it was quickly rebuilt and made readily available for the next American Royal season. That building housed American Royal until 1991 when it was torn down to make way for the more current American Royal complex.
The show had officially became the American Royal in 1902 after C.F. Curtiss, the dean of agriculture at the Iowa State College of Agriculture, made comparison to the show with the British Royal Agricultural Fair. Attendance continues to overflowed as the show opened up to more breeds and species and soon it became an established Kansas City tradition.
The official American Royal Horse Show occurred 1st in 1905 with the help of the prominent horse trainer Tom Bass. Loula Long Combs performed in her first American Royal horse show on the following year. Loula belongs from a prominent Kansas City family who were known in the country for owning some of the best horses. Both Tom Bass and Loula Long Combs pioneered and became prominent figures of the American Royal Horse Show. She was often greeted with a crowd standing ovation while entering the ring on her phaeton with two of her Boston bulldogs riding with her. Loula continued to compete at the horse show for over 50 years, often winning. Today the American Royal features several horse shows varying from renowned trainers and stables.
The two events that that were soon added at the American Royal season are the rodeo and barbecue contest. The first American Royal Rodeo was held in together with the first dairy show during the spring in 1949. The dairy show and rodeo dissolve operation in 1951, but the rodeo made a surprised comeback in 1965 and remained a yearly spring activity. In was moved to the fall season in 1976 with the first American Royal PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) who sanctioned the rodeo. The rodeo usually highlighted with concerts of famous prominent country singers including Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, and Garth Brooks. The first American Royal Barbecue Contest was held in 1980, it started as small competition and quickly grew in popularity. In 1998. It officially became the ‘The World’s Largest Barbecue’ with 340 competitive teams competing.
Today, The World Series of Barbecue serves as the largest fundraiser for the American Royal.
American Royal is a non-profit organization founded in Kansas City. Providing opportunities for youth and adults from all around the country to compete in Livestock Show, Rodeo, and Horse Shows. Many people know American Royal thru World Series of Barbecue. Through this event it made it possible to open the door to raise over $1 million annually for youth scholarships and support the agriculture education programs. This event therefore play a big part in shaping the country’s future
For over a century, the American Royal has played a major key to in developing Kansas City history. Through multiple buildings, events and programs, The American Royal has transformed into what it is today. The American Royal continues as a Kansas City tradition offering excellent opportunities for scholarships, education, and competition from all around the country for youth and adults who attend the programs.
Upcoming 2023 Event Coverage
It’s no secret that the American Royal World Series of BBQ is the biggest barbecue competition held in America these days. So it shouldn’t be a big surprise that the upcoming American Royal 2023 BBQ events are already underway for this year’s contestants. Here is the latest news about what to expect this year and when it’s all going down.
Expect more than a few close friends
Thankfully, the attendance results have not dwindled in the last couple of years. It should come to be no surprise that the Coronavirus didn’t scare away the infectious bug of BBQ fanatics from all over the US last year. Amazingly, there were a little more than 60,000 people attending just in 2021! And- with such an economic impact that Kansas BBQ is counting on (every year), no mutated flu strain was enough to chase away these die-hard barbecue Pitmasters.
It’s also one of the coveted big ticket’ prize wins for barbecue that offers a total of $120,000 for the range of prizes that are awarded. Last year was also a big history year where a first-timer Grant Basiliere of Que U won both days as Grand Champion and took home 15K and 17K in prize money and endorsements as a result. This is just one of the highlights that brought together 535 teams competing for the 2022 BBQ glory.
This year for American Royal 2023, the competition could swell as high as 550 teams attending with more than 70- 80,000 people coming out for the fun and festival-like atmosphere.
Which events to look for in 2023
Spring BBQ events
- Backyard BBQ & Steak Cook-Off: March 24-25, 2023 (Thursday & Friday)
- Best Sauce on the Planet: May 16, 2023 (Tuesday)
- Bust Rub Contest: May 18, 2023 (Thursday)
- Backyard BBQ & Steak Cook-Off: May 18, 2023 (Thursday)
World Series of Barbecue
- Invitational Contest: September 30, 2023 (Saturday)
- Open Sides Contest: September 30, 2023 (Saturday)
- Kids Que Contest: September 30, 2023 (Saturday)
- Open Meats Contest: October 1, 2023 (Sunday)
Other dates and events to be announced:
Some of the minor competitions that include smoked turkey, sausage, and side dishes will be announced shortly. The sides include vegetables, potatoes, and beans, but are not limited to desserts.
VIP Experiences: Party of the Year Judges, Royal Tours
The VIP experience is one of the fastest-selling tickets at this event. It allows you full access to become part of a small but intensive group known as the “Party of the Year Judge” where no more than 15-20 per group will judge camps of contestants on their party performance! It’s a wild ride that allows you to select who has the best atmosphere, hospitality, and overall ‘Party of the Year’.
And since many of these BBQ teams are looking to impress, your attendance at each camp visited is assured to be filled with plenty of free BBQ samples, plenty of drinks, and get some inside Pitmaster secrets along the way. It’s essentially a $95-100 ticket pub crawl through the biggest BBQ competition on Earth, so bring some comfy walking shoes for this one. You can attend this event for both days of the September Barbecue contest days.
When it comes to the Royal Tours, this separate ticket gives you a similar experience where you can be selected and invited to 3-4 team camps for a 70-minute experience in all. You’ll get VIP treatment and talk face-to-face with experienced Pitmasters who have likely won big titles in previous American Royal BBQ competitions. This ticket cost is only $40-45 and can be purchased for the September competitions as well.
Get your tickets soon!
You’ll find that these tickets are often first come first serve, so it pays to keep this one bookmarked to see when tickets go on sale. As of this writing, no tickets are available just yet, but that can change soon enough. Both the general admission tickets and VIP experiences will certainly sell out soon, so be sure to keep a keen eye on early deals before your chance to attend the American Royal 2023 BBQ competition everyone wants to attend is sold out!
What to Expect?
A participant Todd Johns of Plowboys Barbecue as the Grand Champion at the 2009 Invitational, Open-Reserve Champion in 2010, Grand Champion awards for his brisket in 2009 and his pork in 2008. Gives his insights about the vibes, what was it like and he says it’s like a party and a family reunion, with some 600 teams competing including a 20 international teams representing 11 countries in the flagship food events. He explains that each team cooks about 120-150 pounds of meat per contest, 2-4 butts, 3-6 slabs or ribs, 1-2 dozen pieces of chicken, 2 whole briskets. Participants should arrive at the event with everything they plan to use. There are a couple of different experiences, John says that it depends to what your weekend looks like. Some are in the invitational, some open, and some both. He noted that for the teams that are cooking the invitational, some the open, and some cooking in two very important back to back contests. By the time you’re starting your turn-ins for the invitational, you’re starting your food for the open. They have to pace themselves and be focused he added.
Anything Interesting about Winning Recipes Entries/Etc.
Most of the recipes have their own uniqueness in the smallest detail. The interesting part is one needs to be meticulous choosing meat and farm supplier, It might sound very simple but it is really a big game changer, it is the meats premium quality. Only the top quality meats can really produce the best result but of course with the Chef’s cooking skills and mastered cooking methods. What catches the BBQ enthusiast more engaging in this event is that the American Royal World Series of Barbecue are selling the blend of rubs which the champions used. The good thing is they can replicate the BBQ dish on their own at the comfort of their home.
The winning Entry dishes keeps the competition on flick and very much alive. It is for sure setting the standards that makes the game on for being the best. Yearly setting restaurant owners, chefs and pitmasters vigorously training, developing and mastering their techniques to win this prestige title everyone’s been dreaming to have. As it does not only represents perfection but also the beauty of the challenge it brings that is worth the pain and the hustle.
The sauces and rubs explicitly assembled to bring out heavenly flavors are well orchestrated and known by heart by the people who loved good food such as aspiring participant teams of this event. Even smoking process is crucial that is what makes it beautiful. that is what makes it art.
Any Other Relevant Topics that may be helpful to someone looking to know more about this event.
For locals that are interested to be a partner vendor of the event this is what you are looking for. Some information on the site should be considered such as; you will gain exposure to the fans, exhibitors, and participants that will attend American Royal events as a vendor in the American Royal Marketplace. At the heart of the American Royal’s Grand Hall, the bustling Marketplace is centrally located and is your chance to reach out to this high foot traffic. This is your very good chance to tap into a niche that is excited to be in Kansas City. A display of chic Western apparel and decor, and horse and livestock merchandise to agriculture materials, our event participants are looking for rare and exceptional finds. For any concerns, please reach [email protected].
The Sauce Contest is part of the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Competitions, this contest is the largest BBQ sauce contest in the world with nearly 400 entries from countries across the world. The entry will be judged in a blind tasting on their appearance, texture, taste alone, and taste on unseasoned barbecue meat. Categories are Mild, Hot, Vinegar, Mustard and Specialty. The top awarded sauce in each category will be crowned first place in that category and the overall highest score will be named the 2020 Best Sauce on the Planet. The contest is not cancelled. In fact, the deadlines for submitting sauces have been extended and registrations/shipments will be accepted until further notice. For submission deadlines and other details review the event packet for updated information at the official website: https://www.americanroyal.com/bbq/spring-events/sauce-contest/.
A little history of events
Pitmaster Fred Robles of Weslaco, Texas-based owner of Rio Grande Meat is a two-time winner in American Royal World Series of Barbecue. Rio Valley Meat BBQ team was named 2017’s World Barbecue Champion at the 2017 World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama on Nov. 12. Robles took home a $10,000 prize for the win. At his first attempt Fred not only made it to top 10 but claimed the title. But there is no stopping him as he claimed his victory at the 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue in 2019. He won several competitions as well across the country and given back to the community who with the help of Big Poppa Smokers and Smithfield, donated $8,500 to Estrellas’s House, a childhood advocacy center in Edinburg. Truly he knows how to extend his blessings to others
Pitmaster Darren and Sherry Warth of Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ took home the Grand Champion title on Sept. 17, 2018. The husband and wife team who owned a restaurant have taken the competitive circuit by storm above 466 competing team not only won the 39th Grand Champion title but it’s the 3rd time in six years that they snatched that title. Also they are on top on the game in some other categories as well which really says about a lot about their passion for their craft. For more information on previous WSOBB winners see our results archive here.
