Get Ready, Get Set - Grill!
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. -- Great food and good times are on the menu for the 14th annual Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off , Aug. 4-5.  The event will be held at the Hillbilly Fairgrounds, off Hwy. 5, in Laurie at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks.

The Cook-Off attracts participants from throughout Missouri and surrounding states.  A separate event, the 10th annual Kids Q , also attracts up-and-coming grillers age 5 through 15.

“Last year was our biggest ever with 78 teams and 37 kids participating,” says Susann Huff, Cook-Off chairperson. “Competitors love coming to the Lake of the Ozarks because our contest and activities are so much fun and also because there are so many fun 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.  Nearly $5,400 in cash prizes will be awarded, from $25 up to $1,000 for the Grand Champion.  Prizes also will be awarded to the top scoring local team and for the booth that best illustrates this year's theme, “Smokin' At The Lake Hillbilly Style.” Judging will start at 12:00 noon on Saturday, Aug. 5.
   
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 the Young Country band, back by popular demand from last year.  In addition, contestant-cooked chicken wing samples will be given away from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., donated by G2M Supermarket.  Activities available on Friday and Saturday will include the fun Buck-A-Duck Races offering cash prizes, and a raffle for prizes including half of a side of beef and a $100 meat package processed by Larry's Meat Market in Sunrise Beach.  The Happy Holler Beer Garden will open at 12:00 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.  The past three years, the Cook-Off winner has been the Twin Oaks Smokin' Crew from Stillwater, Oklahoma.
   
Bar-b-que teams still may enter the Cook-Off for $125 per team.  All proceeds go toward improvements for the ballpark and playground at Laurie's city park.
   
“The Cook-Off always is a great time for contestants and spectators,” Huff says.  “Best of all, the whole town smells like bar-b-que!”
  
For more information about the Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off, call Susan 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 or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau's web site at www.funlake.com .

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