The 7th annual U.P. Hog Wild Competition BBQ kicks off Friday
KINGSFORD -- The right rubs...the perfect seasonings...and...
"Love...a lot, a lot of love," says Joe Paquin, one of the competitors.
That's what competitors say are the key ingredients for award winning barbeque.
"It's a combination of experience and a lot of practice, a lot of luck," says Mike Killey, another competitor.
This year, 26 teams are vying for $7500 in cash prizes, including one duo who travelled all the way from Virginia to compete.
"You just get hooked, the sense of competition...just all the experimentation and the creativity of cooking," says Stephanie West, one of the competitors.
But we can't forget about our locals, like team Swine Dining. These guys are so passionate about how they do 'Q they even made their own smokers.
"Our smokers are homemade; we've got a couple engineers, we've got an old fridge, and an old Frigidaire, and they work just as well as one of these electric automated ones," Joe Paquin of Team Swine Dining explains.
All the teams will be judged tomorrow by representatives from the Kansas City Barbeque Society. All the proceeds from the event go to charity.
"Everything that we do here funds and helps support U.P. Hog wild charities, and our mission is to help support children with disabilities, primarily the U.P. camp for kids with diabetes," says John Bertoldi, U.P. Hog Wild President.
If you haven't made it out to U.P. Hog Wild, the event is going on all day Saturday.
Tickets are available for $15 at Lodal Park.
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