2008 Rules

6^th Annual Humble Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off

February 8^th & 9^th, 2008

TGCBCA Sanctioned

Proceeds Benefit: The Humble Education Foundation

Rules & Regulations

The Humble BBQ Cookoff Committee welcomes you to the 6^th Annual BBQ Cookoff. All cookoff teams are required to submit an entry form to this event. The entry application entitles the cooking team to one cook-off space at a rate of $150.00. Additional spaces can be purchased at a rate of $150.00 each with a limit of 4 spaces per cooking team. These spaces do not entitle the cooking team to any additional cooking entries unless entered under another team name using a separate pit and separate head cook. Entry fee must be received at time of application, no credit can be extended. All checks must be made payable to the Humble Education Foundation and mailed to the attention of Stacy Williams at 8114 Sports Haven – Humble, Texas 77346. Spaces are on a first come first served basis and no space will be held without application/entry fee being turned in.

1) Cookoff Entry Deadline: Teams must submit their entry form for the 2008 Humble BBQ Cookoff no later than January 31, 2008 at 6:00 pm – entries are placed on first come first served bases until all spaces have been taken. Entries received after this date will be accepted only if space allows.

2) Team Composition: Each team must consist of one head cook and four team members. Each team must have and cook on their own pit and cooking team members may not cook for more than one team in the competition. Each cooking team is required to have the head cook attend the cooks meeting which will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 9:00 am in the Judging Tent. The Head Cook is responsible for the operation of the team space and all actions within our outside of the designated space by members or guests of their cooking team. The Head Cook must be onsite and available to the Humble BBQ Committee if necessary. Each team may be responsible for providing one tasting judge. This person must be at least 18 years of age, must not be intoxicated and can not be the Head Cook. Each team will be given 5 wrist bands, these wrist bands are to be worn by each member of the cooking team during the entire weekend of the event. This wrist band only allows access to the Humble BBQ Cookoff events and does not gain anyone in possession of said band access to the rodeo or concert. Rodeo and Concert tickets may be purchased separately. Any guest to the Humble BBQ Cookoff will be required to purchase a weekend wristband. Wristbands maybe purchased in advance by Head Cook and will be in the Head Cooks welcome packet.

2. Cooking Categories and Rules: Cooking categories to be judged will be:

- Brisket; Chicken and Pork Spare Ribs - quantities for turn-in will be announced at Head Cooks Meeting on Saturday morning. All meat must be raw. No pre-marinating prior to the start of the cook-off. (MEAT IS SUBJECT TO INSPECTION) No garnish or sauce may be in tray at turn in. You may cook with sauce but it may not be ladled/spooned or otherwise placed on the meat at turn in. The promoter will advise contestants of official start time. There is a 10-minute window before and after stated turn-in times. All judging will be done in accordance to TGCBCA rules. If you have any questions, ask at the cook’s meeting.

Additional cooking categories:

- Open Category (which must be cooked on-site and will be held on Saturday) and is part of the $150 entry fee. The open category CAN NOT be one of the three competition meats (brisket, ribs or chicken) or a dessert.

3. Cookoff Site Setup Times:

a. Early Setup: Early setup will begin on Thursday, February 7^th, beginning at 10:00 am and ending at 6:00 pm. At 6:00 pm gates to the BBQ Cookoff will be locked for security purposes. During early setup tents, pits, RV’s, etc. may be brought in and set-up.

b. Regular Setup: Regular setup will begin on Friday, February 8^th, beginning at 8:00 am and ending at 5:00 pm. At 5:00 pm the gates to the BBQ Cookoff will be locked due to pedestrian traffic and safety issues. No extra vehicles shall be allowed in the pit area after 5:00 pm on Friday, February 8^th. After set up is complete, no vehicles will be allowed in the cooking areas. Any vehicle parked outside your cook-off teams boundaries after the designated time may be towed at owner’s expense.

c. Cookoff sites will be approximately 30’ x 40’ or as otherwise marked. Team’s equipment and decorations must fit within the area assigned. Electricity will not be supplied by the Humble BBQ Cookoff committee. Porta-cans may be purchased at time of entry form submission – Porta-cans can not be ordered at time of arrival. All tent structures or canopies must be secured with water barrels. Boring or drilling of holes into concrete for spikes if prohibited. . Shuttle carts/vehicles will be provided to move supplies for teams when necessary.

4. Equipment: The Humble BBQ Cookoff will only supply cooking teams with a space only. Cooking teams must supply all necessary equipment and supplies. Each team must provide drip pans or diaper the pit being used. All teams are required to have a fire extinguisher present during times of cooking. All extinguishers must have a current date tag. Committee personnel will randomly inspect for extinguishers. Props, trailers, motor homes, RV’s, vehicles, tents, generators, coverings and/or any other part of the cooking teams equipment is the sole responsibility of the cooking team and may not extend at anytime outside of the designated cooking team space.

b. APPROVED: Propane heaters are permitted for heating purposes but will be used at the discretion and responsibility of the team using them. Pit fires must be wood or wood substance (charcoal). BBQ pits may include gas or electricity to start natural fiber substances to complete cooking.

5. Behavior and Conduct: Head cooks are responsible for the conduct of their team members and guest.

a. Excessive use of alcoholic beverages may be grounds for disqualification. Under NO circumstances are alcoholic beverages to be distributed to minors (anyone under the age of 21). Each team must monitor its own area when it pertains to minors. Security officers will be permitted to all areas of the cookoff including all cookoff team tents, etc. and will have authority to handle matters in accordance with the law.

b. No alcohol, goods or food sales are permitted to the general public by anyone except those authorized by the event chairperson.

6. House Keeping: Each team will be responsible for cleanup within their assigned space and are expected to do so within a timely manner. Garbage cans will be provided, so please insure that they are not packed full. Trash pick-up will be provided. It is strongly suggested that each team bring an additional supply of trash liners for their own use. Upon check out each team is required to place excess trash debris, etc. in the dumpsters provided.

7. Entertainment: Entertainment at the cookoff will be provided by the Cookoff Committee on the main stage Friday evening. No outside live entertainment (ex: bands, karaoke, singers, etc) will be allowed in team tents. PA’s and radios shall be played at a reasonable level. The City of Humble has a noise ordinance that will be enforced between the hours of 11:00 pm and 7:00 am. Any extreme entertainment (ex: skits, shows, demonstrations, contest, etc.) must be requested in writing, for committee approval, when entry form is submitted. Pyrotechnics of any kind are strictly prohibited. Excessive noise will be determined by Security Officer and request made by such to teams for noise to be shut-down or turned down must be obeyed.

8. Transportation: The use of motorized recreational vehicles is prohibited in the cook-off area between 5:00 pm on Friday, February 8^th – 7:00 am Sunday, February 10, 2008 except for those committee members of the Humble BBQ Cookoff. Motorized vehicles will include but are not limited to: Public/Private Golf Carts or ATV’s of any kind. Mobility scooters and motorized wheel chairs are allowed for those in need of such devises.

9. Judging and Awards: All measures will be taken to insure that judges will not know whose entry is being judged. Judging will be ran in accordance to TGCBCA rules and guidelines and their decision will be final. Awards will be given on the entertainment stage located on the cookoff grounds. Cooking teams are required to have a representative present and claim tickets must be readily available.

10. Clean Up: It is the responsibility of the contestants to see that their cookoff space is cleaned and all trash is taken to provided dumpster prior to leaving. All fires must be put out, concrete blocks and other building materials or props must be hauled away from site. All equipment used by the team is to be removed by 12:00 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2008. Any property left on the premises after 2:00 pm Sunday – February 10, 2008 will become the sole ownership of the Humble BBQ Cookoff committee. It is imperative that clean up be thorough. Any space left in disarray or with loose or bundled trash, other than at trash containers, will disqualify the team from future participation in sanctioned events or other Humble BBQ Cookoff events. All tents or canopies must be removed from the parking lot no later than Monday – February 11, 2008.