FARMERS SHARE SPOTLIGHT AT CHAMBER'S ANNUAL BBQ FEST AUG. 23-24

Chefs and barbecue teams will be spotlighted at the fourth annual Cape BBQ Fest this month. But a small group of competitive farmers also will grab a share of the spotlight.

The annual barbecue contest, to be held Aug. 23-24 at Arena Park, is sponsored by the Agri-Business Committee of Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and a number of co-sponsors.

"The Super Farmer Contest has become a big part of the weekend," said Tom Schulte, chairman of the Agri-Business Committee. "We receive a number of entries for the annual competition."

Area farmers compete in a number of events during the Friday evening portion of the program.

"They drive steel fence posts, corral a calf, fill a feeder with grain and stack up baled hay," said Schulte.

The objective of the BBQ Fest is to promote agriculture and the beef and cattle industries. A number of contests are on the BBQ Fest schedule. These include bean-bag tossing, kiddie tractor pull contests, watermelon eating, rolling-pin throws and water balloon tossing.

The barbecue competition is scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

"Barbecue teams set up throughout the day on Friday," said Joe Perry Rice, who has served as a chairman the past two years. "We have a practice session for the cooks Friday night with the actual contests Saturday."

The festival has grown every year, said Rice.

More than 2,000 spectators attended last year's BBQ Fest. Beef and pork cooked for the contest are not available to the public, in accordance with Cape Girardeau County Health Department regulations, but the Chamber's Agri-Business Committee is arranging for complimentary samples of beef and pork.

More than 15 entries have already indicated they will participate in this year's barbecue, and many more are expected.

Teams must cook in four of the six categories -- hamburgers, beef kebabs, pork ribs, pork Boston butts, pork steaks and beef filet mignon, a new category this year -- to qualify for the grand-champion trophy.

Entries will be judged for flavor, appearance, aroma, tenderness and doneness. Judging will begin at noon Aug. 24 A grand champion will be announced at 3 p.m.

The defending grand champion is Cape Electric Supply. Previous grand champions were Consolidated Grain in 1993 and Boatmen's Porker in 1994.

"I am proud of our judging system," said Rice. "We have from 30 to 50 people on our judges list, from a wide area."

Teams interested in participating should call Rice, 334-6061; Schulte, 334-7044 or Linda Minner at the Chamber of Commerce office, 335-3312.

The barbecue is a good place to pick up barbecuing tips, said Rice. "The cooks will tell you what they're doing and why," he said.

In addition, Charlie Knote will conduct a barbecue seminar at 7 p.m. during the Friday schedule. Knote is a familiar name to area outdoor chefs. He is author of a barbecue cookbook and writes a cooking column. Knote and his wife, Ruth, are owners of the Culinary Institute of Smoke-Cooking.