Sikeston team wins overall prize at Cape BBQ Fest

Ask anybody at the Cape BBQ Fest: If you're there, and you're participating, you're family.

Hundreds of people gathered in the Arena Building in the cool air-conditioning to hear the results of this year's festival. The awards were divided into four categories: chicken, pork, pork ribs and brisket. For the overall competition, participants had to compete in all four categories.

People gathered in groups, many wearing matching T-shirts, and when it was time to announce the top five winners of the overall competition, including the top prize of $2,500, the excitement was almost tangible.

This year's overall winner was a return enthusiast, Smelly Butts BBQ of Sikeston, Missouri. The three-person team was made of Tim Sells and his family, and they've been cooking at competitions since 2007. The Sellses won in Cape Girardeau in 2012, and since then, they have been regulars.

"I was shocked the first time, and I was totally shocked this time," Sells said of his win this year.

Brent Presser with the Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club team prepares ribs for judging Saturday at the Cape BBQ Fest in Arena Park. (Fred Lynch)

But even if a team didn't win in its desired categories, everyone seemed happy for those who came to the front to accept their trophy and cash prize.

"We've been cooking about eight years competitively," Emily Heuring of Warden's Q said. "We've played high school sports; we've played college sports. When you get out of college, you can't be competitive at anything anymore. This is our competition. You know it's fun; it's a family thing."

Heuring said over the past eight years, the competing teams have become a family.

"A lot of these teams, we're all on the circuit together. You cheer for them at their events; they cheer for you when you win. It works out; it really does," Heuring said.

Warden's Q won first place in the Cape BBQ fest four years ago, and it has been a steady competitor ever since. Heuring said after her team's name is called that first time, "you're hooked; you're just hooked."

This year marks the 22nd edition of the Cape BBQ Fest, and for the second year in a row, it had more than 50 teams. A total of 54 squads camped out at Arena Park over the weekend, with friends, campers and barbecue grills filling all available space. People chatted and cooked, and the smell of barbecue wafted in the 96-degree summer heat.

"I'm proud of the event. It's a lot of work; we do it for the Toybox program," event organizer Robbie Guard said. "As Jaycees, we want to make money off our barbecue and our beverage sales. That's our profit. It's a little hot, so we're a little down [in attendance] from last year."

Last year, the Cape Girardeau Jaycees raised about $37,000 with various fundraisers for the Toybox program, a toy-drive fundraiser for underprivileged children. In the two days of the barbecue fest, Guard thought the Jaycees raised about $6,000 for the program.

According to Carol Bigler, one of the two Kansas City Barbeque Society representatives at the event, the judges evaluate three things: appearance, taste and tenderness.

"One thing that we don't like is falling-off-the-bones ribs or mushy meats or overcooked meats, so we always check for the tenderness, that kind of stuff," Bigler said.

Guard said the number of judges depends on the number of teams entered, so this year, the Kansas City Barbeque Society brought in about 56 judges.

"We strive for 100 percent CBJ: certified barbecue judges," Guard said. "But, with that many teams, we are happy with 90 percent."

This year, $10,000 was awarded overall in prize money, and Guard is happy to see people from farther away keep coming to participate.

"All of these people that I've met over the last six years, they come in, and we hang out and we talk and see how each other are doing. It's like a family reunion. I just enjoy being around the people, getting to see and talk to them again," Guard said.

smaue@semissourian.com

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