Texas BBQ Cook-Off Boasts Record Payout of $34,500

HELOTES TEXAS, Texas - Jan. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Helotes, Texas:   The City of Helotes has teamed up with WESTERN Premium BBQ Products to host the LARGEST PAYOUT BBQ COOK-OFF in the State of Texas! The record payout of $34,500 will be distributed to the best of the 150 teams competing in this second of three cook-offs in the “WESTERN W3 BBQ Cook-Off Series.”

The Helotes Festival Grounds, home to great events like the Cornyval Festival and Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival, will be home to a new epic event, the City of Helotes BBQ Cook-Off.  150 of the best BBQ teams from all over the world will compete for cash and prizes in this event sanctioned by the International Barbecue Cookers Association (IBCA).  Grand Champion of the event will win at least $3,450.00 plus prizes and the biggest bragging rights possible.  BBQ team spots have been sold out for months, but the hype, anticipation and sheer excitement continues to build and grow.

“Helotes in January will make for a fantastic BBQ Cook-Off,” states Rick Schroder, City Administrator of Helotes, Texas.  “With the Texas Hill Country as our backdrop and a great team to work with, this will be a monumental event.”

The event has quite a bit to offer the general public.  In addition to seeing the elaborate BBQ pits and rigs proudly exhibited by these Texas pitmasters, one might also gain insight into HOW to generate such amazing cuisine at home.  There will be dozens of vendors selling all sorts of things you can't live without as well as food and other tasty treats. Fun for the whole family!

Connoisseurs of all things barbeque might have the opportunity to taste some the smoked Texas delicacies simply by becoming an official BBQ Judge. To judge the BBQ at this event, one must be 18 years of age or older and attend a judges briefing at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 25, 2014, in the pavilion at the Helotes Festival Grounds. There is no charge to be a judge.

Following the Saturday night Awards Ceremony, Texas recording sensation Reckless Kelly as well as Cactus Country will be preforming on the main stage (only $15 ticket for the concert.)  Wristbands are required for concert admittance. You may purchase tickets online at helotesbbq.com or at the main gate.

The City of Helotes BBQ Cook-Off is the second of three cook-offs in the “WESTERN W3 BBQ Cook-Off Series.”  In a continuing effort to provide a better BBQ experience for everyone from the most die-hard of competition cookers to the ever-growing army of backyard grillers, WESTERN Premium BBQ Products decided to create the WESTERN W3 BBQ Cook-Off Series. The Series consists of three BBQ cook-offs linked together by a point accumulation system (points chase).  The team earning the most points in the Series will become the WESTERN W3 Series Grand Champion and will win and additional $5000 plus prizes.  There are also cash prizes for WESTERN W3 Reserve Grand Champion plus the highest point-earning team in each meat category.  The total projected payout for the entire WESTERN W3 BBQ Cook-Off Series is well over $100,000.

The series will wrap up on the weekend of WESTERN’s birthday in their hometown of Pleasanton, Texas, March 21-22, 2014 when the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce hosts Turn-N-Burn.

“We have designed this series of cook-offs with the cooker in mind,” states Ryan Lawson, Vice President Sales and Marketing of WESTERN Premium BBQ Products.  “We strive to make a significant, positive and meaningful impact directly to cookers. We believe a well-executed series of events paying out huge dollars accomplishes that.”

The WESTERN W3 BBQ Cook-Off Series launched in November 2013 the historic community of New Braunfels, Texas at Gruene Harley-Davidson on what was one of the coldest weekends of the year.  150 BBQ teams braved the weather competing for their share of the $34,343.74 in prize money.  Joseph Severson of “Cool Hands Smoke” took Grand Champion with the point earned from his 5^th place chicken and 2^nd place pork spare ribs.  Hampton Pratka of “Bottle Cap Cookers” won Reserve Grand Champion with points earned from this 11^th place brisket, 10^th place pork spare ribs, and 3^rd place chicken.  First place winners in chicken, pork spare ribs, and brisket respectively were Paul Carnell of “PJ’s Smokehouse”; David Goerke of “Circle G Cookers”; and Clarence Joseph of “Mama & Papa Joe’s BBQ”.

“We’re excited to partner with these guys because WESTERN is the ‘Harley-Davidson’ of the BBQ world,” states Nikki Mills of Gruene Harley-Davidson.

At each of the three events, the categories for competition will include beef brisket, pork spare ribs and chicken halves.  This series boasts a 100% payout for all entry money collected plus additional prizes to be given awayduring each event. Prize money will be given to first through tenth places in the three categories at each cook-off.  Series points will be earned by teams as their entries advance through judging rounds.  The team with the most points at the end of the series wins. Teams do not have to participate in all three events, although they will have a better chance of winning the series and the additional prize money if they do.

Online registration for this monumental cook-off series began on Monday, September 16, 2013.  Complete event information as well as event and series rules can be found online at http://www.WesternW3BBQCookOffSeries.com or find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WesternW3BBQCookOffSeries.