What It’s Like To Be On A Competition Barbecue Team

There’s a lot more involved than just cooking

Photo by author

Every May, my teammates and I compete in the world championships of barbecue (known to the locals as “BBQ Fest”), held in Memphis, Tennessee as part of a month-long festival. The competition lasts four days, but months of planning happen behind the scenes.

In this article, I will provide you with a complete look at how a barbecue team operates from start to finish. I will discuss the types of barbecue teams, how they are named, and what functions non-cooking team members perform.

Furthermore, I will talk about budgets, memberships and sponsorships, and I will break down the timeline over a period of months. Finally, I will discuss the most important aspect of being on a team, the food, and how you can get some competition-style ‘cue.

You don’t have to know how to cook to be on a barbecue team

Our team has approximately 40 members, and only 6 or 7 of them tend the pit. We have plenty of other duties team members carry out. These include

• Running to the grocery tent and beer tent for supplies
• Sponsor relations
• Member recruitment