Liberty Tree BBQ

[Greendriver]

Congrates to Uncle Chet's BBQ "Chad Renfroe" for winning the Liberty Tree contest this weekend.  I also want to personally thank all the teams that came to my home town to compete in this 1st year contest and enduring the wind, cold, and rain!  It was a challenge for all and I enjoyed being part of it all and having the chance to do my 1st and LAST IBCA contest.  I don't know who or where this format came from but it's just not my cup of tea so to speak and here's what I liked and didn't like.  Simplicity of the boxes as far as ribs & chicken, is fine by me, but has anyone heard of "burnt ends" for your brisket box or multiple types of meat for your pork box's (there is more than one way to serve pork and brisket)?   Maybe the worst part is the confusion and time it takes to peel the tape off the box's and then finally be called a NUMBER RATHER THAN A NAME.  Good Luck IBCA but without changes I'm sure your organization will not grow. 

[The Penelope Flash]

Geez, I'm real sorry you have decided that you have cooked your first and last IBCA cook off. As for the format that IBCA uses it is to me the fairest way to present turn in boxes due to all the meat being required to be placed in the box in the same manner. The same goes for the blind judging with the ticket taped to the box. I personally like knowing that even the head judge does not have a clue as to who's meat is in the box. All I can say about your statement that without changes you are sure that IBCA will not grow is that you might want to do a little homework and look back at the history of this organization before making such statements.
Best of luck to you in your future barbecue adventures.

[Lynn]

[quote author=Greendriver link=topic=870.msg4205#msg4205 date=!  It was a challenge for all and I enjoyed being part of it all and having the chance to do my 1st and LAST IBCA contest.   Maybe the worst part is the confusion and time it takes to peel the tape off the box's and then finally be called a NUMBER RATHER THAN A NAME.  Good Luck IBCA but without changes I'm sure your organization will not grow. 
[/quote]


I hate that you feel that way but I will tell you that IBCA is the second largest sanctioning organization in the USA with events from GA to CA -

I have nothing against KCBS(which we are members) or MIM but the system works - we don't do a lot of pork in our events however we do allow it if the Promoter wants to include it into the contest.

Our rules are basically for the cooks - everyone one turns in the same amount, laid in the box the same, etc - and until the number that is on the ticket is called - there is no one that knows whose container it is until the tickets are matched.

I hope in the future that you will give our organization another chance - and if not - Good Luck on your smoking adventures.

We are trying to do the fairest judging possible on any given day.

[SSBBQ]

Well, Well, Well, sounds like someone doesnt understand how fair this circuit is!!!!! I have been on all the major circuits for 6 years and have never found a fairer event and better people to run and play with!
 the weather was cold but the people that I/we met warmed our hearts and souls with how we were treated!!!!! We will definately be back next year and go for the Title!!!! My wife and I won reserve champion for this event and can't wait for the IBCA to come back to GA!!!!! We will make the trip however long that it takes....By the way, mistakes happen...BE PATIENT! this is a free country so I respect how you feel, but realize that there are others out here that have the opportunity/money/time and effort to attend these events! I/we encourage the IBCA to come to more places and events closer to Fla so that others can experience true competion and real DOUBLE BLIND judging!!! Sorry if this seems like a rant, but a lot of people worked very hard to take care of all of us and I/we greatly appreciate all of it! Please invite me to any and all events in Ga!!!! I love this circuit....Sincerely Keith Hall/Pitmaster
Seriously Smokin' BBQ
Orange Park Fl...
"Never trust a skinny chef!"

[Lynn]

Congrats on being named Res Champs - I am waiting for the results to get them posted on to the website.

I'm glad that you had a good time - not having met KAsey I feel that I know him and knew that he would put on a great event.

Hope to see you on the smokin' trail.

[chillychili8787]

I really can't add or say it any better than Lynn, (you rock!!)  but as a cook for 20+ years, a Head Judge and now Executive Director of IBCA there is not another better sanctioning body than ours!  Yes, the others are good but no one cares and takes judging as seriously as we do with the cooks being the most important thing at any event.  Without the cooks there would be no cookoffs.  I'm sorry you feel the way you do and I hope you will try another of our events but if not, good luck on whatever circuit you decide to cook in.  And BTW, we have over 700 members that like how we pull the tape off and call out the ticket numbers. 

Wishing you the best on the bbq trail.

Dee Dee Barton
Executive Director of IBCA
Certified Head Judge of IBCA

[nukenight]

Comparing sanctioning bodies is like selecting a favorite child.  We love them all, but they are all different.  I personally prefer IBCA sanctioned contests as a cook because it is more straightforward and easier to understand.  I personally think IBCA contests are easier for first-time cooks than events sanctioned by KCBS or MBN.  Simply put, I cook less meat that costs less money at an IBCA event.  However, I've judged many and cooked in a few KCBS events and had a good time at each.  After all, this is just BBQ and it's meant to be fun.  Sometimes it is a good idea to change things up a bit and cook at a different style contest. 

I applaud you for cooking at an IBCA event.  However, I think you need to give it another chance.  One event does not mean that all contests of that type are bad.  The sanctioning organization doesn't guarantee the success of a contest.  My wife and I are also head judges for contests in Louisiana.  I know that mistakes can happen.  We desire to minimize errors in the judging area while maintaining the integrity of the contest.  Cookers expect the head judges to be fair and treat everyone the same.  I love the ticket system.  I think it is a fair and unbiased way to run a contest.  Tickets mean nobody knows who wins until the numbers are read at the awards ceremony.  Peeling tickets takes time, but it is a simple and straightforward way to determine who wins and places at a contest. 

Burnt ends in a box?  Well, they are good and tasty, but they are not an acceptable entry for IBCA.  What's wrong with that?  It takes all kinds of people to cook BBQ.  The same is true with pork.  You cook what is required for the contest whether its a half chicken with little sauce or thighs with much sauce.  When it is all said and done, it is all BBQ.  I participate in BBQ contests with my wife for fun.  I encourage you to come to Louisiana and try a second IBCA contest.     

And SSBBQ, we in Louisiana are working on moving IBCA east.  I'd like to see more IBCA contests in MS, AL, and GA soon! 

Finally, way to go Brian Lipps!!!  You made all of us proud in Ponchatoula, LA last weekend by taking your first grand.....