KCBS Rules and Regulations
The Contest: The “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). KCBS representatives will be onsite. Judging starts at noon on Saturday, May 20, 2023 using the blind judging system. The contest consists of four categories (chicken, pork ribs, pork, and beef brisket). All four categories are required for Grand Champion.
The contest is named in honor of the two local “Kings of Q”, Latham “Bum” Dennis and the late Pete Jones. Both families run a successful BBQ restaurant and share family history as being decedents of Skilton Dennis. The Dennis family history stakes claim to the nation’s first commercial barbecue establishment. In 1830, Skilton Dennis is said to have started selling pit cooked hog meat and cornbread out of a wagon in a community named Otter Town, the present town of Ayden. The Dennis clan is said to pass “that ‘gift’ with barbecue” from generation to generation.
KCBS Sanctioned: The Contest will be governed by the competition rules of the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). A complete set of rules can be found by visiting https://www.kcbs.us/
The following rules and regulations also apply to the competition:
1. All cook teams are responsible for reading and following the KCBS rules and regulations.
2. All cook teams are responsible for reading and understanding the contest information on the following pages.
3. Each team must have a 5 pound or larger, 3-A, 40BC rated fire extinguisher near all cooking devices.
4. Opened alcoholic beverages are only permitted on competition cook sites. No alcoholic beverages shall be distributed (given away or sold) to the general public.
5. Food or unapproved items are not to be distributed (given away or sold) to the general public by contestants.
6. The head cook is responsible for the actions of the team. Any violation of the contest rules will disqualify the team from the contest and the team may be asked to leave the event grounds.
Competition Host Location: Check-in, Cooks Meeting, Judging, and People’s Choice will be held at Ayden Christian Church, 462 Second Street, located in the center of the BBQ Village. The Village encompasses an area dedicated to the contest located within a 2 block radius of the church. The festival and awards stage are located 2 blocks to the east on West Avenue along the railroad tracks. Awards will be presented Saturday afternoon at 5:00PM from the main stage on West Avenue. If there is inclement weather, the awards will be held in the Family Life Center of Ayden Christian Church.
Cook Team: A cook team shall consist of 1 head cook and as many assistants as the head cook deems necessary. A team may cook several pieces of meat per category, but may only turn in one entry per category. The turn in quantities will be a minimum of six (6) portions as stated in the KCBS rules. Any violation of the contest rules by any team member will disqualify the team from the contest. The head cook is responsible for the actions of the team and for each team member and for the actions of any guest of the team.
What’s included in your entry fee: Entry fees are listed on the Official Entry Form and based upon site size and power requirements. Upon notification of acceptance of your application and payment of the entry fees, your team is entered in the “Kings of Q” KCBS sanctioned contest and the optional People’s Choice Pork Contest (if checked on the entry form). You will be assigned a competition cook site of the size and power requirements as selected on the entry form (if available), with power and water located within 75 feet of your cook site. 4 bags of ice will be provided to the team site as needed, one complimentary event T-shirt, and five (5) passes to the “BBQ Experience” (see below). Extra T-Shirts, and a private Port-a-John can be ordered on the entry form.
The BBQ Experience is a tour highlighting the 2 local BBQ restaurants. The experience starts with lunch on Friday (11:30-1:30) at Bum’s Restaurant along with a tour of their whole hog pits. Dinner on Friday night (5:00-6:30 PM) will be at the Skylight Inn with transportation provided. A tour of the pits will be available. The Experience concludes with breakfast Saturday morning (6:30-8:30am) at Bum’s Restaurant. Team members and guest without a pass can still attend the functions but they will have to purchase their food and drink.
Bum’s Restaurant, 566 Third Street, serves country-style food including fried chicken, whole hog BBQ, and a buffet table of freshly prepared vegetable sides like: cabbage, stewed rutabaga, black eyed peas, boiled potatoes, and collards— grown in Bum’s own garden, and the best banana pudding around. Bum’s is located one block to the east of the contest at 566 Third Street.
The Skylight Inn, 4618 South Lee Street, is a recipient of a James Beard Award and known for their pit cooked whole hog BBQ. They have received a lot of media coverage over the past decade becoming one of the “Must Visit” BBQ Joints in the country. The Skylight Inn is located about 0.8 miles south of the BBQ Village.
Check-in/ Early Arrival/ Extended Stay: Check-in: Friday, May 17, 2023 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. GPS address is 462 Second Street, Ayden, NC. Prior to the competition the Head Cook will receive several emails with updated information of the contest and festival activities. The week before the competition an email will be sent providing check-in information, a location map, and directions. Event direction signs will be installed along major thoroughfares directing cook teams to the check-in area.
Early Arrival/Extended Stay: Teams are welcome to arrive on Thursday after 1:00PM and leave on Sunday. Water and power will be provided. Please indicate this on the application or contact Stephen Smith one (1) week before the contest at [email protected], or call 252-481-5827. Make plans now to stay and enjoy the Saturday night festivities including a street dance at main stage.
Meat Inspection: You may choose to have your competition meat inspected during check-in or once you are setup on your site. The meat inspector will be on-hand to ensure the competition meats are in compliance to the KCBS Rules. For KCBS competitions it is perfectly legal to trim the meat/pork/chicken in advance. If you are not ready for meat inspection during check-in, you will receive a ribbon to hang on your site somewhere visible to notify inspectors you are ready for a site visit and inspection. Meat inspection times are Friday, May 17th, 9:00am to 4:00pm
Prize Money and Awards: Kings of Q is required to file a 1099 with the IRS for the 2024 tax year for any team receiving more than $600. Before check in, each team must submit a W-9 form, as checks will be made out to the Pitmaster and tax ID you specified on the W-9 Form.
KCBS Prize Purse: $10,000
Grand Champion: $2,000, a custom made chopping block, pair of engraved Cleavers, and a free entry into the 2025 “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off.
Reserve Grand: $1,000, a custom made chopping block, pair of engraved Cleavers, and a free entry into the 2025 “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off.
Each KCBS Category: Chicken, Ribs, Pork, Brisket
1st Place: $500, a cutting board, engraved Cleaver.
2nd Place: $400, and a cutting board.
3rd Place: $300, and a cutting board.
4th Place: $200, and a cutting board.
5th Place: $100, and a cutting board.
6th – 10th Place: $50, and a bread board.
Competition Cook Site:
Vehicle Parking: In addition to your truck/camper/trailer/toy-hauler/motor-home/primary vehicle, one additional vehicle will be permitted on your competition cook site; however, everything must fit in your space. Vehicles are not allowed to park in designated travel lanes in the competition area. The travel ways must remain passable at all times for emergency vehicles. For safety reasons, all other vehicles must park in separate, designated cook team parking areas. Vehicles parked in the competition area will not be allowed to come and go unless you are making deliveries to the cook site. We kindly ask that you not abuse this privilege. If you want uninhibited movement, please park in the designated cook team parking areas.
Cooks Meeting: The mandatory cooks meeting will be held Friday at 4:00pm in the Family Life Center of Ayden Christian Church.
BBQ Product Vending (non-food): On your cooking site you may choose, free of charge, to sell barbeque products (not prepared food) such as commercial rubs, sauces, books, videos, cooking related items, or paraphernalia relating to your individual team. Beverages and onsite prepared foods, including competition meats, are not allowed to be sold without a food vending permit.
Food and Beverage Vending: If you wish to sell beverages, on site prepared food, including competition barbecue, you must fill out a food vendor application available on the event website. There will be a limited number of food vendors by type of food.
Safety & Security:
Clean-Up and Exiting: It is the responsibility of the contestant to see that the team’s assigned cooking space is clean and orderly, and return the sites to pre-competition conditions following the contest. All fires must be put out, and all equipment removed from site. It is imperative that clean-up be thorough. Any team’s assigned cooking space left in disarray or with loose trash, other than at trash containers, may disqualify the team from future participation at KCBS sanctioned events.
Contact Information
Town of Ayden “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off
Attn: Stephen Smith
PO Box 219, Ayden, NC 28513-0219
Email: [email protected]
Phone number: 252-481-5827
The contest is named in honor of the two local “Kings of Q”, Latham “Bum” Dennis and the late Pete Jones. Both families run a successful BBQ restaurant and share family history as being decedents of Skilton Dennis. The Dennis family history stakes claim to the nation’s first commercial barbecue establishment. In 1830, Skilton Dennis is said to have started selling pit cooked hog meat and cornbread out of a wagon in a community named Otter Town, the present town of Ayden. The Dennis clan is said to pass “that ‘gift’ with barbecue” from generation to generation.
KCBS Sanctioned: The Contest will be governed by the competition rules of the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). A complete set of rules can be found by visiting https://www.kcbs.us/
The following rules and regulations also apply to the competition:
1. All cook teams are responsible for reading and following the KCBS rules and regulations.
2. All cook teams are responsible for reading and understanding the contest information on the following pages.
3. Each team must have a 5 pound or larger, 3-A, 40BC rated fire extinguisher near all cooking devices.
4. Opened alcoholic beverages are only permitted on competition cook sites. No alcoholic beverages shall be distributed (given away or sold) to the general public.
5. Food or unapproved items are not to be distributed (given away or sold) to the general public by contestants.
6. The head cook is responsible for the actions of the team. Any violation of the contest rules will disqualify the team from the contest and the team may be asked to leave the event grounds.
Competition Host Location: Check-in, Cooks Meeting, Judging, and People’s Choice will be held at Ayden Christian Church, 462 Second Street, located in the center of the BBQ Village. The Village encompasses an area dedicated to the contest located within a 2 block radius of the church. The festival and awards stage are located 2 blocks to the east on West Avenue along the railroad tracks. Awards will be presented Saturday afternoon at 5:00PM from the main stage on West Avenue. If there is inclement weather, the awards will be held in the Family Life Center of Ayden Christian Church.
Cook Team: A cook team shall consist of 1 head cook and as many assistants as the head cook deems necessary. A team may cook several pieces of meat per category, but may only turn in one entry per category. The turn in quantities will be a minimum of six (6) portions as stated in the KCBS rules. Any violation of the contest rules by any team member will disqualify the team from the contest. The head cook is responsible for the actions of the team and for each team member and for the actions of any guest of the team.
What’s included in your entry fee: Entry fees are listed on the Official Entry Form and based upon site size and power requirements. Upon notification of acceptance of your application and payment of the entry fees, your team is entered in the “Kings of Q” KCBS sanctioned contest and the optional People’s Choice Pork Contest (if checked on the entry form). You will be assigned a competition cook site of the size and power requirements as selected on the entry form (if available), with power and water located within 75 feet of your cook site. 4 bags of ice will be provided to the team site as needed, one complimentary event T-shirt, and five (5) passes to the “BBQ Experience” (see below). Extra T-Shirts, and a private Port-a-John can be ordered on the entry form.
The BBQ Experience is a tour highlighting the 2 local BBQ restaurants. The experience starts with lunch on Friday (11:30-1:30) at Bum’s Restaurant along with a tour of their whole hog pits. Dinner on Friday night (5:00-6:30 PM) will be at the Skylight Inn with transportation provided. A tour of the pits will be available. The Experience concludes with breakfast Saturday morning (6:30-8:30am) at Bum’s Restaurant. Team members and guest without a pass can still attend the functions but they will have to purchase their food and drink.
Bum’s Restaurant, 566 Third Street, serves country-style food including fried chicken, whole hog BBQ, and a buffet table of freshly prepared vegetable sides like: cabbage, stewed rutabaga, black eyed peas, boiled potatoes, and collards— grown in Bum’s own garden, and the best banana pudding around. Bum’s is located one block to the east of the contest at 566 Third Street.
The Skylight Inn, 4618 South Lee Street, is a recipient of a James Beard Award and known for their pit cooked whole hog BBQ. They have received a lot of media coverage over the past decade becoming one of the “Must Visit” BBQ Joints in the country. The Skylight Inn is located about 0.8 miles south of the BBQ Village.
Check-in/ Early Arrival/ Extended Stay: Check-in: Friday, May 17, 2023 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. GPS address is 462 Second Street, Ayden, NC. Prior to the competition the Head Cook will receive several emails with updated information of the contest and festival activities. The week before the competition an email will be sent providing check-in information, a location map, and directions. Event direction signs will be installed along major thoroughfares directing cook teams to the check-in area.
Early Arrival/Extended Stay: Teams are welcome to arrive on Thursday after 1:00PM and leave on Sunday. Water and power will be provided. Please indicate this on the application or contact Stephen Smith one (1) week before the contest at [email protected], or call 252-481-5827. Make plans now to stay and enjoy the Saturday night festivities including a street dance at main stage.
Meat Inspection: You may choose to have your competition meat inspected during check-in or once you are setup on your site. The meat inspector will be on-hand to ensure the competition meats are in compliance to the KCBS Rules. For KCBS competitions it is perfectly legal to trim the meat/pork/chicken in advance. If you are not ready for meat inspection during check-in, you will receive a ribbon to hang on your site somewhere visible to notify inspectors you are ready for a site visit and inspection. Meat inspection times are Friday, May 17th, 9:00am to 4:00pm
Prize Money and Awards: Kings of Q is required to file a 1099 with the IRS for the 2024 tax year for any team receiving more than $600. Before check in, each team must submit a W-9 form, as checks will be made out to the Pitmaster and tax ID you specified on the W-9 Form.
KCBS Prize Purse: $10,000
Grand Champion: $2,000, a custom made chopping block, pair of engraved Cleavers, and a free entry into the 2025 “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off.
Reserve Grand: $1,000, a custom made chopping block, pair of engraved Cleavers, and a free entry into the 2025 “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off.
Each KCBS Category: Chicken, Ribs, Pork, Brisket
1st Place: $500, a cutting board, engraved Cleaver.
2nd Place: $400, and a cutting board.
3rd Place: $300, and a cutting board.
4th Place: $200, and a cutting board.
5th Place: $100, and a cutting board.
6th – 10th Place: $50, and a bread board.
Competition Cook Site:
- Each team will be assigned a competition cook site as selected on the team entry form. Pits, cookers, props, trailers, motor homes, vehicles, tents or any other equipment shall not exceed the boundaries of the team’s assigned cook site. All seasoning and cooking of product shall be done within the assigned cooking site. Teams shall not share an assigned cooking site or cooking device.
- All travel ways must remain passable at all times for emergency vehicles. Please park all vehicles within the limits of your cook site or in the designated cook team parking areas.
- Each team must supply its own cooking ingredients, grills/smokers, utensils, tables, chairs, wood, charcoal, water hoses, power cables, and other materials needed by team.
- Open fires on the ground are not permitted. We understand that coals need to be created for smoking, so please keep all fires contained. Burn barrels will not be allowed on a paved cook site.
- A fire extinguisher must be readily available near the cookers at all times.
- Potable Water hook-ups will be available within 75’ of all cook sites.
- Each team is provided, within 75 feet of their cook site, one (1) 120v/20amp duplex power outlet or a standard RV type 30amp or 50amp power outlet as selected on the team entry form. You must supply any adapters and extension cords. The Town of Ayden Electrical Department will be onsite for any power needs.
- If necessary, personal generators may be used but it must be a quiet operating generator with a manufacturer’s noise rating of no more than 70dBa at 10 feet away. Any complaints of noisy generators may be cause to have the noise corrected immediately.
- When you need ice, just let one of the volunteers know and they will bring it to you.
- Barrels will be available for dumping hot ashes/ coals, and grey water with grease throughout the competition area. Grey water not containing grease may be emptied in vegetative areas. Grease should be disposed of with your regular trash (please double bag all bags containing grease).
- Trash shall be tied up and secured in a bag, then placed next to your site for pick up. Please don’t over-fill trash bags. 96- gallon rollout containers will be provided throughout the competition site for the general public.
- Public “Port-a-Johns” will be located throughout the completion site. A private Port-a-John can be reserved on the entry form for $100.00.
- Golf carts setup for highway use, bikes, and the like, are allowed in the competition area, but are not allowed in the festival area along West Avenue. Only persons with a valid driver’s license are allowed to operate a golf cart on town streets. When not in use they must be parked on your cook site.
Vehicle Parking: In addition to your truck/camper/trailer/toy-hauler/motor-home/primary vehicle, one additional vehicle will be permitted on your competition cook site; however, everything must fit in your space. Vehicles are not allowed to park in designated travel lanes in the competition area. The travel ways must remain passable at all times for emergency vehicles. For safety reasons, all other vehicles must park in separate, designated cook team parking areas. Vehicles parked in the competition area will not be allowed to come and go unless you are making deliveries to the cook site. We kindly ask that you not abuse this privilege. If you want uninhibited movement, please park in the designated cook team parking areas.
Cooks Meeting: The mandatory cooks meeting will be held Friday at 4:00pm in the Family Life Center of Ayden Christian Church.
BBQ Product Vending (non-food): On your cooking site you may choose, free of charge, to sell barbeque products (not prepared food) such as commercial rubs, sauces, books, videos, cooking related items, or paraphernalia relating to your individual team. Beverages and onsite prepared foods, including competition meats, are not allowed to be sold without a food vending permit.
Food and Beverage Vending: If you wish to sell beverages, on site prepared food, including competition barbecue, you must fill out a food vendor application available on the event website. There will be a limited number of food vendors by type of food.
Safety & Security:
- The Ayden Police Department and Fire Department will be on-site Friday 8:00am thru the last event Saturday night. The Police Department is located across from Bum’s Restaurant on Third Street. All emergencies during the competition: Dial 911. Physical location of the BBQ Village is 462 Second Street.
- The Head Cook is responsible for the conduct of his/her team members and any guests.
- Under no circumstances are alcoholic beverages to be distributed (given away or sold) to the public by the teams. Team members are expected to be discreet in consuming alcoholic beverages in a professional and responsible manner. Opened alcoholic beverages are only permitted on the team’s cook site.
- All teams are requested to respect the rights of others with special emphasis against loud noise and music, profane language, and infringement on adjoining sites.
- Teams must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
Clean-Up and Exiting: It is the responsibility of the contestant to see that the team’s assigned cooking space is clean and orderly, and return the sites to pre-competition conditions following the contest. All fires must be put out, and all equipment removed from site. It is imperative that clean-up be thorough. Any team’s assigned cooking space left in disarray or with loose trash, other than at trash containers, may disqualify the team from future participation at KCBS sanctioned events.
Contact Information
Town of Ayden “Kings of Q” BBQ Cook-off
Attn: Stephen Smith
PO Box 219, Ayden, NC 28513-0219
Email: [email protected]
Phone number: 252-481-5827
