Bar-B-Que Cookoff 'Luau' Planned
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

 Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. –Clucka-Hula-Doo!”  Get set to hear that battle cry and sample some great bar-b-que at the 15th annual Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off.  The event is set for Aug. 3-4 at the Hillbilly Fairgrounds, off Hwy. 5, in Laurie at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks.

This year’s “Clucka-Hula-Doo!” theme – the logo is a chicken dressed in a grass skirt and lei, cooking a pig on a spit – won’t change the event’s emphasis on great Ozark bar-b-que.  The annual Cook-Off attracts participants from throughout Missouri and surrounding states. A separate event, the 11th annual Kids Q, also will give up-and-coming grillers, age 5-15, a chance to strut their bar-b-que stuff.

Last year 63 teams participated but registrations are still coming in and we may hit our limit of 78 teams,” says Susann Huff, Cook-Off chairperson and Laurie Events and Parks coordinator. “Thirty-seven kids also competed last year.  We always get a great turnout of competitors and spectators because our contest and activities are so much fun and also because there are so many terrific family activities at the Lake of the Ozarks.”

Participants will compete in categories for chicken, pork ribs, beef brisket, pork shoulder or Boston Butt.  There’s also an “open” category which includes “anything prepared on-site,” Huff explains.  Cash prizes totaling $5,475 will be awarded, including $1,000 for the Grand Champion, who also will win a Big Green Egg Smoker.  Prizes also will go to the top scoring local team and for the booth that best illustrates this year’s theme.  Judging will start at noon on Saturday.

In the kids’ contest, participants will grill hamburgers, sausage or hot dogs.  Prizes will include savings bonds, trophies, ribbons and certificates.  Judging will start at 9:15 a.m.

The fun will kick off Friday night with a dance from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Happy Holler Beer Garden featuring Cook-Off favorites, the Young Country band. In addition, contestant-cooked chicken wing samples will be given away from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., donated by G2M Supermarket.

Friday and Saturday night activities will include the popular Buck-A-Duck Races (featuring yellow rubber duckies floating down a waterwheel-driven stream) plus a raffle for prizes including a processed whole hog and $100 cash.  The Happy Holler Beer Garden will open at noon on Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Tasty lunches and dinners also will be available at the Li’l Rustic and Hillbilly Cook Shack.

The Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.  The Laurie winner will earn an invitation to the world’s largest barbecue contest held in Kansas City each fall at the American Royal Livestock, Horse Show & Rodeo.  The winner also may be selected for the annual Jack Daniel’s cook-off in Tennessee.  Last year’s winner was the all-female trio known as Squeal of Approval from Lenexa, Kan.

Bar-b-que teams still may enter the Cook-Off for $125 per team.  This year’s proceeds will help provide a new row of RV spots at the Fairgrounds campground, Huff says.

“The Cook-Off always is a wonderful event for contestants and spectators,” she adds.  “Best of all, the whole town smells like bar-b-que!”

For more information about the Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off, call Susann Huff at 573-216-9358 or 573-374-8776, or send an e-mail to laurievents@aol.com.  And to find out more about all the events, activities, shopping, attractions, lodging and dining at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau’s web site at www.funlake.com.