Entries welcome in Ramona Rodeo’s first Cowboy Barbecue Cookoff

Ramona Rodeo’s first Cowboy Barbecue Cookoff will be held Saturday, May 30. Located in the stage area of the rodeo grounds, the cookoff will feature entered teams competing for prize money in three different categories.

At noon, the teams will turn in their pork ribs to the judges. They will turn in pork shoulders at 1 p.m. and beef brisket at 2 p.m.

According to Eddie Brisendine, head cook for the local “Here’s the Rub” team, good barbecue is all about cooking “low and slow.”

“Although we don’t start turning our entries in until noon, we will all be there setting up on Friday evening,” said Brisendine, a Ramona resident. “Typically, we cook our briskets around 8 hours and the pork shoulders even longer.”

The judges, who will include many local and visiting celebrities, will judge the entries on taste, tenderness and appearance. First through third place awards will be announced on the stage at 4 p.m. on May 30.

Tickets will be sold to the public starting at noon that day for $2 tastings of the different entries. All are invited to “come on out and talk to the teams and try some of the best barbecue around.”

For information about entering the cookoff, e-mail Kitty Brisendine at ktntk@cox.net.