For Immediate Release Media Contact: Pam Jones or Marjorie Beenders
July 16, 2009 Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: pam@tbmg.net
"Mooolicious" BBQ Attracts Cowstumers to Laurie
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. –The competition will be udder-ly intense as the 17th annual Laurie Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off heats up on July 31-Aug. 1 at the Laurie Fairgrounds off Highway 5 at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. “MOOOOLICIOUS BBQ.” will be the theme this year. “It was time for the cow to take a turn,” explains Susann Huff, Cook-off chairperson and Laurie Events and Parks coordinator.
In addition, the 13th annual Kids Q will give future master grillers, age 5-15, a chance to win prizes of their own.
“Last year 76 teams and 30 kids competed,” says Huff. “People love to take part in this event or just come and watch because it’s always so much fun. And in addition to the cook-off, there’s a lot for families to do here at the Lake. Many come for the cook-off and stay for the whole weekend.” Admission to the fairgrounds is free.
Bar-B-Que Cook-off participants will compete in chicken, pork ribs, beef brisket, pork shoulder or Boston Butt categories. In addition, the “open” category includes anything prepared on-site. Cash prizes totaling $5,375 will be awarded, including $1,000 for the Grand Champion and $500 for 1st Place. Prizes also will be awarded to the top scoring local team (within a 50-mile radius) and the Showmanship Award will honor the booth that best illustrates the theme of the year. Judging will start at 12 noon on Saturday.
Kids Q contestants will grill hamburgers, sausage or hot dogs. Prizes will include savings bonds, trophies, ribbons and certificates. Judging will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Cook-off activities will start off on Friday night with a dance from 7 to 11 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 to 8 p.m., donated by G2M Supermarket. Other Friday 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 $250 gas card and $100 cash. The Happy Holler Beer Garden will open at 12 noon on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Tasty lunches and dinners also will be available at the Hillbilly Smoke 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 every 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 winning team was Munchin’ Hogs at the Hilton, from Prairie, Kansas. The top-scoring local winner was Floppy Backwoods Smokers, from Edwards, Missouri.
There’s still time for teams to enter the Cook-Off. Entry fees are $125 per team.
“The cook-off always is a great time for contestants and for spectators. People like to come out and see the different types of cookers and enjoy the activities,” Huff says. “We always look forward to it because the whole town smells like bar-b-que!”
For more information about the Laurie Hillbilly Bar-B-Que Cook-Off, please call Susan Huff at (573) 216-9358 or (573) 374-8776, visit www.cityoflaurie.com, or send an e-mail to laurievents@aol.com. And to find out more about all the great events, activities, shopping, attractions, lodging and dining at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, please call 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau’s web site a www.funlake.com.
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