TENNESSEE FUNFEST, INC. BARBECUE COOKING CONTEST
Official Rules and Operations
*****
Logistical Information
Event Location
The event will be held at the Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN.
To get to the site: From I-40: Go south on Germantown Parkway to Walnut Grove. Turn right
(west) on Walnut Grove. Immediately after merging into traffic on
Walnut Grove turn left into the Agricenter entrance. Follow the signs
to registration at the top of the park behind the Agricenter building.
From I-240 Go east on Walnut Grove, turn right into the Agricenter entrance.
Follow the signs to registration at the top of the park behind the Agricenter building.
DO NOT USE MOORE ROAD off Germantown. You will be turned away.
Traffic Flow
All traffic must flow through the North Gate #1 at Midway Road. No vehicle traffic will be allowed on Moore Road.
Load In
All loading and unloading should come through North Gate #1 at Midway Road. At the North Gate you will have a drop-off sticker put on your windshield. A contest official will write on the sticker your time-in and time-out and Site #. There is no extended stay inside the contest area. At expiration of your time-out you must have your vehicle out of the contest site area. Vehicles inside the contest site after your drop-off sticker has expired will be towed at owners expense. Funfest will not be liable for any damages to a vehicle towed.
Vehicle traffic that is allowed in the park will have a valid card displayed in the window with contact information with relation to booth space, team name, cell phone number and date and time vehicle entered the park. All vehicle traffic will stop at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Friday officials will give out drop-off stickers for drop off only. There is no parking allowed inside the contest area. Friday traffic will stop at 4:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS. Saturday no vehicle traffic will be allowed inside the contest area until after 5:00 p.m. Any vehicle allowed in the park that is inside the teams designated area during gated hours and until the park is officially closed at night must remain in the site until the gates are open to traffic.
Note: If you will be bringing in fresh flowers, fruit, etc. for Saturday competition, you will need to have a wagon, cart, 2-wheeler or other such transport. There is no vehicle traffic allowed. Golf carts could possibly be available to help.
Teams needing help getting supplies in after the traffic is stopped can go to the North Gate #1 to receive help shuttling supplies in. Due to our insurance liability, we will not be able to transport passengers, only supplies.
Any team member refusing to cooperate is subject to the team being disqualified. We appreciate your cooperation for the safety of all.
Contestant Parking
Contestant parking will be available in the parking lot behind the Agricenter. Additional parking will be available in the gravel parking area south of the contest site. RV parking will be at the east end of the contest grounds. (Please ask at registration to be directed to an RV site.)
There will be no parking inside the contest site. Contestants will not be allowed to park at their site.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR PARKING.
Registration
Each team must check in at the designated registration area. The volunteers will give out the cooking area assignment, electrical adapters and any new information or changes. You will be required to present your tent permit at the time of check-in, so be sure whoever is going to check the team in has this paperwork.
All teams must acquire a tent permit for tents over 10'x10' from the Fire Prevention Bureau at 79 S. Flicker St, Memphis, TN, 38104.
Each team must have a flame retardant certificate for their tent.
Each team must have a fire extinguisher on their site at all times.
(Non-compliance with any of these rules may result in disqualification.)
Load Out
No vehicles will be allowed into the team area until approximately 5:00 p.m. Saturday. (You may pack up, but not load up).
Absolutely no load out before 5:00 p..m.. Saturday
Load out must be completed by 12:00 p.m. Noon, Sunday. Forfeiture of deposit is likely if you are not out the park by Sunday at noon. Unless arrangements have been made in some form of writing, by a Funfest Staff member.
Sign Out
Each team will be required to check out at the designated area. You must turn in your electrical adapter at this time. You must have your proof of signing out of the park.
OTHER RULES
1. ELECTRICAL RULES/REGULATIONS -- Contest will require forfeiture of entire damage deposit if lock on electrical panel is circumvented. Included in your Water/Electrical is (1) 30 amp. circuit. If, however, a second 30 amp circuit is needed, it must be arranged for and paid for once on site. ($70.00) Should you need a second electrical adaptor, the cost will be $30.00 refundable with receipt at end of contest. You will be given a receipt for the second 30 amp circuit. If you do not have this receipt when asked to produce it you will be in violation of our rules by using electricity without paying for it; your entire damage deposit will be forfeited and you will be subject to disqualification from the contest with the forfeiture of all fees paid and owed. Electricity payment with application is for Thursday, Friday and Saturday only. If you need additional days you should contact the Agricenter directly and make payment arrangement prior to arriving on site.
2. A meeting for all contestants will be held on Friday of the contest at 5:00pm in Building C. The rules, regulations, and other necessary information will be discussed at that time.
3. It is the responsibility of each contestant to see that their contest area is kept clean. The area should be cleaned and policed following the contest. ALL FIRES MUST BE PUT OUT, debris hauled and all equipment moved from the site. Failure to do so will result in forfeit of deposit. Damage to the electrical hook-up will cause automatic forfeit of the damage deposit and may disqualify the team from future participation. Trash receptacles will be supplied. The Barbecue Committee requests that all contestants cooperate in the disposal of trash and keeping the area clean.
4. The Chief Cook will be held responsible for the conduct of his or her team and guests. Excessive use of alcoholic beverages will be grounds for disqualification. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO BE DISTRIBUTED (GIVEN AWAY OR SOLD) TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY CONTESTANTS (OR ANYONE IN THEIR TEAM AREA. The committee requests and requires that good taste be used.
5. We want a good atmosphere for those who attend. Music will be contained in your area after l2:00 am- MIDNIGHT.
6. No live bands, combos, karaoke, etc. will be allowed in individual cooking areas at any time during the event. There will be absolutely no entertainment (music) during judging which starts at 11:00am on Saturday and ends approximately 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
7. No fireworks of any kind are permitted in the contest area. Contestants using fireworks or allowing others to use them in their area are subject to disqualification.
8. The Barbecue Committee is not responsible for tents, cookers, or other equipment left unattended before, during, or after the contest.
9. The Barbecue Committee reserves the right to make additional regulations as the situation warrants.
10. Decisions of the Barbecue Committee and Judges are final.
11. Violation of Rules and Regulations of the contest may result in disqualification, expulsion from the grounds and/or disqualifications from future participation.
BBQ Contest General Information
BEER Beer by the case and the keg available on-site.
ICE Ice will be available for purchase on site. Prices to be announced.
WATER Water is available on site and easily accessible. You may wish to bring a splitter for the faucet if you need constant use of water.
TEAM ENTERTAINMENT No live band, combos, karaoke etc. will be allowed in the individual team areas at any time during the event. There will be absolutely no entertainment during judging on Saturday, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
GENERATORS There will be no generators allowed. All teams will have access to electricity. You will have one (1) 30 amp 110 volt plug. You should bring a power strip to accommodate your needs.
TENTS Tents must be flame retardant and certified to be so. Make sure you are within the Memphis & Shelby County Code Enforcement requirements (rules enclosed). No tent stakes or fence posts will be allowed within two (2) feet of electricity or water lines.
Friday night Ancillary Contests
All judging will be blind. There is information contained in this packet about these contests.
Championship Contest Saturday
Funfest Judging will follow the Memphis Barbeque Network rules.
There will be blind and on-site judging: 10:00 a.m. Shoulders
11:15 a.m. Whole Hog
12:30 p.m. Ribs
Approx. 1:45 p.m. Finals
On-site only no blind judging, 4 judges all at one time.
Backyard Ribs will have only Blind judging: 1:00 p.m.
BACKYARD RIB-MASTERS
Back Yard Rib Master teams must follow all of the above rules. In addition the following rules apply:
1. The Team or its Chief Cook may not be entered in the main event or cooking with any other team at this contest..
2. Only ribs as defined above are valid entries.
3. Total grill cooking area is to be no larger than 15 square feet.
4.. All meat must be cooked on the premises.
5. All meat must be fresh or frozen and must not be sauced, spiced, injected, marinated or cured in any way prior to inspection.
Be sure to READ and KEEP the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Funfest, Inc.
Contest Meat Categories
1. Barbecue is defined by Memphis Barbecue Network as UNCURED FRESH OR FROZEN pork meat, cooked only on a wood and/or charcoal fire, which may or may not be basted. Prior to the official meat inspection, the pork for the contest may not be pre-cooked, sauced, spiced, injected, marinated or cured in any way, or otherwise pre-treated.
Whole
hog entry as defined by Memphis
Barbecue Network is an entire hog which must be cooked as one complete
unit on one grill surface whose dressed weight is 85 pounds or more prior
to the optional removal of the head, feet and skin.
No portion or portions of the whole hog may be separated or removed, and
then returned to the grill, prior to or during the cooking process.
Pork shoulder entry
as defined by Memphis Barbecue Network is the portion of the hog containing the
arm and shank bones, with a portion of the blade bone.
The pork ham that contains the hind leg bone will be considered as a
shoulder entry.
Pork
rib entry as defined by Memphis
Barbecue Network is the portion of the hog containing the ribs and classified as
a spare rib or loin rib portion. Country style ribs are not valid entries.
2. Teams may cook with any type of wood and/or charcoal. Flammables such as propane, compressed or liquid gas may be used ONLY to START the INITIAL fire. Once the meat has been placed within the cooker no type of flammables may be used. To make additional coals, flammables may be used outside and away from the cooker. Local fire and safety laws may dictate whether the use of any type of gas will be allowed.
3.
Electrical devices may be used within the
cooker as long as they do not directly generate heat.
Approved devices include rotisseries,
fans and delivery systems for approved fuels (e.g. Traeger grills).
Electric smokers, holding ovens or any
other devices with heat producing elements are not allowed.
4. Meat for the contest may be fresh or frozen. Meat may not be pre-cooked, sauced, spiced, injected, marinated, cured in any way, or otherwise pre-treated prior to official meat inspection.
5. Meat must be maintained at a temperature below 40° Fahrenheit prior to cooking, and at or above 140° Fahrenheit after cooking.
6. Meat inspection will take place beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday.
7. Open fires will be allowed only for the purpose of making coals for cooking. Please keep these fires as low as possible. They must be covered with a wire screen. Protect the unwary from stumbling into them
8. Each contestant competing shall supply all of his/her own meat, cooking ingredients, individual cooking devices (wood or charcoal), utensils, preparation table, etc. If a larger cooking area is needed, special arrangements may be made (see entry form). All contestants must adhere to all electrical, fire, and other codes of the city, county, state or federal governments. Tents must be certified flame retardant.
9. Each contestant must comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Shelby County Health Department including but not limited to the following:
a. Meat must be 40° or less before cooking. Coolers with ice will keep it cold enough.
b. After cooking, the meat must be maintained at 140° or above .
c. Cleanliness of the cook, assistants and contestants area is required.
d. No live animals (dogs, pigs, etc.) are allowed in the cooking area.
e. Dug pits are not permitted.
10. Each contestant may have as many assistants as needed to accomplish their goal, but any assistant who handles food in any way must comply with all rules and regulations of cleanliness.
11. Each contestant must cook enough barbecue to give samples to six (6) judges. If you run out of barbecue before the judging is completed, your score will be significantly lowered. We encourage you to FILL THE BOX.