Sikeston's Redneck BBQ filled with fun, competition

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Whether people enjoy barbecuing their own food or sampling the fare of others, there's something for everyone at this weekend's Redneck BBQ.

"We have a really good time," said Darice Sawyer, administrative assistant at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, the event sponsor. "We get to meet with and talk to the teams, as well as the public that comes out."

Kathy Medley, who is on the barbecue committee with the chamber, agreed.

"It's a fun outdoors event," she said.

The 15th annual Redneck BBQ will open at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds. There will be an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. and children's games. The Easter Bunny will be on hand -- but not on the grill -- for parents to take pictures of with their children. Concessions will be available, and there will be a raffle for rodeo tickets.

"Since we try to get families to come out, we want to give the kids something to do, too," Medley said. "I think that people who have never come out before would be surprised at how fun of an event it is."

There's even a game for adults and older children. The Sikeston FFA chapter is set to host a Chicken Chuckin' Contest at 1 p.m.

"We have raw chicken that we put in vegetable oil and let it sit so it's real good and slippery," Sawyer said. "Whoever can chuck the chicken the longest distance wins a trophy with a chicken on top."

The barbecue is a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned event, teams are required to cook four types of meat for the competition: chicken, ribs, pork butt and brisket. The competition includes trophies and $3,600 in prizes, Sawyer said. So far, 31 teams have signed up to participate, mostly from the Midwest but some from as far away as Florida.

"And we have a lot of new teams this year," she said.

One team that will be in town this weekend -- kicking off the barbecue competition season -- is Ribs and Bibs of Coatesville, Ind. Dave Stamper and his partner will travel almost eight hours to participate in the Redneck BBQ.

"We used to go to Charleston, [Mo.]," said Stamper. Through 2006, the Kansas City Barbecue Society event was held there in the slot Sikeston now holds. "But this is going to be our first one in Sikeston."