Certified BBQ Judge class in Cedar Springs

[Rich Parker]

I plan on going to volunteer my time being a table captain. Hopefully, I will see a few of you there.


---- Reply message -----
From: grensid@iserv.net
Date: Tue, Nov 23, 2010 11:27 am
Subject: KCBS Judging Class
To: <grensid@iserv.net>

To all,

Mike Lake approached me at the Silver Lake Dunes BBQ competition this year
and asked me to set up a Judging Class in early 2011. So the purpose of
this email is to let you all know about it and to get the word out.
We have set the class for March 12, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of
Cedar Springs located at 233 S. Main St. Cedar Springs Michigan 49319.

Sign in time is 9:00 am and the class starts at 10:00 am. It should be
done around 2:00 or 3:00 pm

The cost is: Non KCBS members $90.00 (this also includes 1 year membership
in KCBS), Members $50.00

I already have two teams that have expressed interest in cooking for the
class.

To sign up contact Roger M. Gren at grensid@iserv.net or call 616-263-6063.
So if you know anyone that would like to take the class pass this email on
to them. Also, if you want to take the class let me know.

[jerry516planes]

Rich,

How many volunteers are you looking for?

[Rich Parker]

Rich,

How many volunteers are you looking for?

Not sure Jerry. I just emailed Roger asking if he needed help and he said he needed table captains.

[Joneser]

2, maybe 3 from me for this class...My BIL lives in Cedar Springs and expressed interest in taking a judging class. Kelli and I were waiting for one to come this way too.

[Shane Holz]

Does anyone know of one happening closer to the other side of the state?

[Rich Parker]

Does anyone know of one happening closer to the other side of the state?

There is a list if classes on KCBS.us for cooking, table captains, and CBJ.

[jerry516planes]

I talked with Roger today and he needs more attendance to reach his goal of breaking even. He said he had 10 or 12 signed up and hopes that he will get 10 or 12 more.

[Derek]

Rich you will see me there.

Sending out the $50 tomorrow morning.

I'll give you the sample of rub at cider springs ok Buddy?

[Spruce-Ridge-Smokers]

I talked with Roger today and he needs more attendance to reach his goal of breaking even. He said he had 10 or 12 signed up and hopes that he will get 10 or 12 more.

Wow; that isn't a very good showing considering that Spruce Ridge represents four of the occupied seats. (Yes Rich, Mike, Bubba; being overly focused, unsociable hard a**e* means that we told everyone on the Spruce Ridge team that wasn't already a CBJ that they either became CBJs in 2011 or they hit the road. :D).

I was really hoping that more teams would send some crew members/spouses/neighbors and both help their teams out and give Roger the turnout he needs. We all love to bitch about not having 100% CBJs at contests; if you know anyone who might be a good CBJ candidate, please try to get them to Roger's class.

Just sayin ...

Brian

[spydermike72]

We held a class last year and had over 60 people attend. I am not sure why there is not a big response to this.

[Derek]

We held a class last year and had over 60 people attend. I am not sure why there is not a big response to this.Could it be the date Mike?

I know I've talked to Rodger last weekend and talked to him about letting my whole team in for $50. He said he could do that as long as one of us is a KCBS member.

That be me. So I cannot wait. I'm finally going to taste some ribs the judges are looking for.

[spydermike72]

Ours was in February. You are not going to get comp ribs at a judging class.

[Derek]

Ours was in February. You are not going to get comp ribs at a judging class.Ok how does the class work?

I have heard it was a tasting class. Hell I don;t know what is then?

[Rich Parker]

Wow; that isn't a very good showing considering that Spruce Ridge represents four of the occupied seats. (Yes Rich, Mike, Bubba; being overly focused, unsociable hard a**e* means that we told everyone on the Spruce Ridge team that wasn't already a CBJ that they either became CBJs in 2011 or they hit the road. :D).

I was really hoping that more teams would send some crew members/spouses/neighbors and both help their teams out and give Roger the turnout he needs. We all love to bitch about not having 100% CBJs at contests; if you know anyone who might be a good CBJ candidate, please try to get them to Roger's class.

Just sayin ...

Brian

LMAO!

I am trying to talk my wife in to going.

[spydermike72]

Ok how does the class work?

I have heard it was a tasting class. Hell I don;t know what is then?

You get to eat food, usually it is not very good. It is more about the rules and the process of judging. They cant teach what tastes good to you...

[Derek]

You get to eat food, usually it is not very good. It is more about the rules and the process of judging. They cant teach what tastes good to you...Thank you Mike for the info.



I am still going to learn though.

I really want to impress you guys but Bubba the most this season.

[Bbq Bubba]

We held a class last year and had over 60 people attend. I am not sure why there is not a big response to this.

Honestly i think we have begun to saturate the judging market.

Did not see a whole lot of advertisement for this either.

[spydermike72]

Honestly i think we have begun to saturate the judging market.

Did not see a whole lot of advertisement for this either.

Agreed on both points. Also they have had several classes on the west side, I think with ours on the east side helped alot...

[Spruce-Ridge-Smokers]

My take on the CBJ issue:

If the contest organizer comes around early in the morning (way prior to "boxing") and says that he is short of CBJs, I would personally MUCH rather have a few CBJ team members temporarily leave their team areas and go to the judging tent rather than bring in some uncertified "celebrity" judges. I view the teams that have CBJs "on staff" as being a nice reserve pool of judges, should they be needed in a real pinch. Now I realize that there are Pitmasters who would be very uncomfortable with such a situation, but realistically, unless you are marking your meat or have a very unusual presentation style, are your CBJs REALLY going to know for certain that it is "your turn-in" as opposed to someone else?

Just thinkin out loud (which I know is dangerous).

Brian

[Shane Holz]

Both members of our team will be there

[Bbq Bubba]

My take on the CBJ issue:

If the contest organizer comes around early in the morning (way prior to "boxing") and says that he is short of CBJs, I would personally MUCH rather have a few CBJ team members temporarily leave their team areas and go to the judging tent rather than bring in some uncertified "celebrity" judges. I view the teams that have CBJs "on staff" as being a nice reserve pool of judges, should they be needed in a real pinch. Now I realize that there are Pitmasters who would be very uncomfortable with such a situation, but realistically, unless you are marking your meat or have a very unusual presentation style, are your CBJs REALLY going to know for certain that it is "your turn-in" as opposed to someone else?

Just thinkin out loud (which I know is dangerous).

Brian

Ya, thats not going to happen. If your teammates don't know their own turn in box, maybe you have to many teammates. ;)

[Rich Parker]

Just on this board we have 8 - 10 going so he must only have 2 others. Brutal!

[Joneser]

Signing up at least two this morning...maybe a 3rd.

[Spruce-Ridge-Smokers]

Ya, thats not going to happen. If your teammates don't know their own turn in box, maybe you have to many teammates. ;)

You certainly make a valid point; our CBJs do know how we typically organize our boxes, although it can vary quite a bit at the last minute due to unusually large or small thighs, longer than average rib bones, butts with overcooked MM, dry brisket point, etc. As a judge, I can tell you that I have seen a lot of boxes that look so close to what we produce that I would be very hesitant to bet money that I could actually pick ours out of the crowd with any certainty since I would have no idea what last minute "formatting" decisions were made by the team. Having been in several judging tents alongside "celebrity" judges (typically last minute conscripts) over the years, I guess I would still feel more comfortable with a team CBJ being able to do a better, fairer job. I still shudder when I think about the guy that left halfway through because he didn't realize how long the judging was going to take, or the person who was more interested in putting meat in his cooler than writing down accurate scores, or the vegetarian (my personal favorite), and last but not least, a patently defective person who didn't even like BBQ in the first place.

Obviously the whole discussion is a moot point if we can maintain a sufficient pool of certified judges who commit to the contests and then actually show up; that is the result we should all strive for.

Brian

[Bbq Bubba]

heres last years percentages....

Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off 100%
Riverwalk Brew-B-Q 91%
6th Annual U.P. Hog Wild 100%
Taste of Grand Rapids & Barbecue Competition 84%
Smoke on the Water Michigan BBQ Championship 100%
Midwest BBQ Throwdown 100%
Silver Lake Apple & BBQ Festival 85%
Harvest on the Ridge 80%

Didnt Silver Lake have a class last year prior too the event?

East side comps are at 100%. Seems theres been more classes on the west side the last 5 years so not sure why the lower %'s.



This information brought to you out of boredom. :cool:

P.S. the red comps are probably no go's this year.

[Spruce-Ridge-Smokers]

Interesting stats; thanks.

Has MIS been completely ruled out at this point?

[spydermike72]

heres last years percentages....

Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off 100%
Riverwalk Brew-B-Q 91%
6th Annual U.P. Hog Wild 100%
Taste of Grand Rapids & Barbecue Competition 84%
Smoke on the Water Michigan BBQ Championship 100%
Midwest BBQ Throwdown 100%
Silver Lake Apple & BBQ Festival 85%
Harvest on the Ridge 80%

Didnt Silver Lake have a class last year prior too the event?

East side comps are at 100%. Seems theres been more classes on the west side the last 5 years so not sure why the lower %'s.



This information brought to you out of boredom. :cool:

P.S. the red comps are probably no go's this year.

Silver Lake was a Table Captain class last year.

[Rich Parker]

Silver Lake had a table captains class on Thursday instead of a CBJ class.

Cates has been saying MIS is still on but who knows.

What is the news on Sparta? I have talked to Roger by email and didn't get the idea it was a no go for 2011.

[sfisch]

Those percentages are not that bad, the Grand Rapids one is kind of odd, that contest has been around a long time.

No info that MIS has been officially canceled, did get word that Sparta most likely will be canceled.

Scott

[Rich Parker]

Man that would really suck if Sparta is cancelled.

Looks like I will need to find some more team members and head to Murphysboro. Anybody with a whole hog cooker want to go play in the MBN? :D

[Bbq Bubba]

I have heard nothing of Sparta not happening, their just not on the KCBS schedule yet. Not sure what the due date for their certification is but summers coming fast.

[jerry516planes]

...and head to Murphysboro. :


Now you are getting into my old stomping grounds!

[michiana mark]

Man that would really suck if Sparta is cancelled.

Looks like I will need to find some more team members and head to Murphysboro. Anybody with a whole hog cooker want to go play in the MBN? :D

Could always rent one from Myron. Maybe Scott can get you a discount, as that they are Buds and all.:D

[Joneser]

Anybody making plans for dinner? Rich, you are local what sounds good?.... :)
My BIL lives about a minute from the church, I can ask him if there is something good local.
We could crash the Corner Bar in Rockford...

[Rich Parker]

Anybody making plans for dinner? Rich, you are local what sounds good?.... :)
My BIL lives about a minute from the church, I can ask him if there is something good local.
We could crash the Corner Bar in Rockford...

Nothing that good in Cedar Springs. I have never been to the Corner Bar in Rockford so that sounds good to me.

[Joneser]

Nothing that good in Cedar Springs. I have never been to the Corner Bar in Rockford so that sounds good to me.

Corner Bar is not too bad, their fried pickles are the bomb.

[jerry516planes]

Corner Bar is not too bad, their fried pickles are the bomb.

That is TRUE!

[Derek]

May I bring a notepad to the class in GR?

[BruceB]

May I bring a notepad to the class in GR?

Yes, you can bring a notebook.

[Derek]

Yes, you can bring a notebook.Great thanks Bruce.

I got the notepad.

I wish we could bring camera's.

By the way the chicken hat will not be coming to the class.

[Shane Holz]

Great thanks Bruce.

I got the notepad.

I wish we could bring camera's.

By the way the chicken hat will not be coming to the class.

According to the rules, notepads are ok but no writting devices or cameras. Chicken hats are acceptable