KCBS Sanctioning Information

KCBS Competition Barbeque Contests

KCBS sanctions barbeque competitions across the United States and worldwide and recognizes barbeque as America's cuisine. The mission of KCBS is to celebrate, teach, preserve, and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, food sport, and art form. KCBS uses a proprietary software program, KCBScore, to capture judge scoring data and accurately determine the final score and ranking for each entry in every category along with overall rankings for the contest. The KCBS format of judging and scoring is the most respected in the professional competition barbeque community. In addition, KCBS Certified Barbeque Judges (CBJs) are trained to evaluate competition barbeque through the largest and most extensive Certified Barbeque Judging training program in the world.

The most successful KCBS contests often serve a purpose beyond competition. Contest organizers are encouraged to align their events with a charitable cause or community initiative, creating a meaningful impact while fostering goodwill and community engagement. Barbeque contests vary in size, shape, factor, and purpose. First-time organizers are encouraged to start slowly, keep plans simple, and allow amble time for preparation - ideally at least one year. The first contest should be viewed as a learning and growth process.

Benefits of a KCBS Sanctioned Contest

Sanctioning a contest with KCBS ensures access to a wealth of experience in the field of competition barbeque. As the world's largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts, KCBS offers organizers:

Integrity and fairness
Event promotion and marketing
Access to KCBS resources and a network of organizers and members
Organizer training
KCBS Contest Representatives (Reps) assigned to the event
Access to KCBS competition teams through the KCBS event listing
Access to KCBS Certified Barbeque Judges (CBJs) via the KCBS Judge Registration system
KCBS Judging supplies, including plates and scoring cards
KCBS proprietary scoring program

Types of KCBS-Sanctioned Contests

KCBS sanctions several types of contests, allowing organizers to select one or more for the event. Each contest type has its own requirements, team experiences, and competitive opportunities, giving organizers flexibility to design an event that meets their goals.

KCBS Master Series Contest
A KCBS Master Series contest, the most popular contest KCBS sanctions, requires teams to cook four types of meat (chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket). The only types of heat sources allowed at a Master Series contest are wood, wood pellets and/or charcoal. Gas and electric heat sources are not permitted. Master Series Champions are eligible for invitational contests, including the KCBS World Invitational, American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational and the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational, upon the contest meeting invitational qualifying criteria. In addition, all teams who participate in a KCBS Master Series contest earn points for the KCBS Master Series Team of the Year (TOY).

Click here to download the Master Series Contest sanctioning application.

KCBS Backyard (Stand-Alone) Contest

A KCBS Backyard stand-alone contest is ideal for organizers who want a smaller format than a KCBS Master Series contest. Teams competing in KCBS Backyard events earn points toward the Backyard Team of the Year (BTOY) race. To score points, teams must cook chicken and pork ribs, although additional proteins may be included. These contests follow the current KCBS Backyard Rules, which require cooking sources such as wood, wood pellets, and/or charcoal.

Click here to download the Backyard (Stand-Alone) Contest application.

KCBS One Meat Contest
A KCBS One Meat contest requires only one of the four KCBS proteins to be cooked and the type of meat is chosen by the organizer (chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder, and/or brisket). Some organizers choose to host two or more One Meat contests in a single day. All KCBS One Meat contests follow the rules and guidelines of a KCBS Master Series contest. All KCBS member teams competing in a One Meat contest earn TOY points for the category, providing an incentive for pitmasters to choose specific contests for extra KCBS TOY points. A One Meat Contest also gives teams new to competition barbeque an opportunity to compete in a more approachable format. Chicken and Ribs One Meat and Contest Category Champions are invited to the World Chicken Finals and World Rib Finals at the KCBS World Invitational, upon meeting the World Invitational qualifying criteria.

Click here to download the One Meat Contest application.

KCBS Competitor Series Contest
A KCBS Competitor Series contest offers organizers a flexible barbeque experience, allowing alternative heat sources such as gas and electricity, along with the ability to adjust other aspects of the contest. With a Competitor Series, the organizer chooses what types of meats are to be cooked instead of or in a combination with one or more of the four standard meats required by a KCBS Master Series (Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder, and Brisket). Competitor Series contests are ideal for those areas where cooking pork loin, tri-tip, or whole hog are popular. Teams participating in a Competitor Series Contest are not eligible for the KCBS World Invitational, the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational or the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational. In addition, teams who participate in a Competitor Series contest will not receive KCBS TOY points.

Click here to download the Competitor Series Contest application.

KCBS Kosher Series Contest
A KCBS Kosher Series contest is governed under the Competitor Series contests because they vary in the four categories of meats usually associated with a KCBS event. A Kosher Series contest has four main meat categories that must be kosher and that are chicken, beef ribs, turkey, and brisket. Similar to a Competitor Series contest, teams participating in a Kosher Series contest are not eligible for the KCBS World Invitational, the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational or the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational and do not receive KCBS TOY points.

Click here to download the Kosher Contest application.

KCBS International Contests
Click here to download the International Master Series Contest application.

Click here to download the International One Meat Contest application.
Click here to download the International Backyard (Stand-Alone) Contest application.

Add-Ons to a KCBS-Sanctioned Contest
Organizers can enhance their KCBS sanctioned event by adding additional contests alongside their primary competition. These add ons can provide additional opportunities for participation.

KCBS Backyard Contest in Conjunction with a KCBS Master Series
One Meat Contest in Conjunction with Another KCBS Contest
Ancillary Categories
Youth BBQ Contest

KCBS Contest Fees

KCBS contest fees include a sanctioning fee and a processing fee. They may also include a per team fee, a per category fee, and a set up fee. These fees together make up the payment due to KCBS upon completion of the contest.The deposit is refundable if the contest is not approved. Once the contest is approved, the deposit becomes non-refundable for any reason, including if the organizer breaches any terms of sanctioning. The fee amount varies depending on the contest type. The sanctioning fee is applied as a credit on the final contest invoice. KCBS reserves the right to modify or update the fees, costs, and pricing structures associated with hosting a KCBS sanctioned event at any time in its sole discretion. Any such changes shall apply prospectively and will not affect events for which KCBS has already received a fully executed sanctioning agreement. No retroactive adjustments will be made to previously executed agreements.

The Base Fee for a Master Series is:

1 - 50 teams = $400 plus $15 per team
51-75 teams = $600 plus $15 per team
76-100 teams = $800 plus $15 per team
for more than 100 teams contact the KCBS office for quote.

Extra Fees:

Extra categories/ancillaries in addition to the KCBS basic four are $35 per category. Examples of extra categories are sauce, dessert, etc...
Ancillary Contests are ones that require additional contest set up. Each Ancillary Contest is $100 per Event + $35 per Category + $8 per team for 2 categories and $10 per team for 3+ extra categories. Examples of an Ancillary Contest is "Backyard Contest."
Kid's Q = $75
An additional processing fee of $25 will be added to the total payment that will be collected at the end of the contest. Note: If a contest is a double-header, only 1 processing fee will be applied.

A minimum Sanction fee is required with each sanctioning package. This fee is non-refundable unless your contest is not approved for sanction. After approval and sanctioning, the fee is non-refundable for any cause, including breach by the organizer of any terms of sanctioning.

KCBS Rep Expenses

KCBS Reps’ expenses include travel, lodging, and meals. Out of town travel may involve airfare, airport parking, transportation to the airport, extra baggage fees, rental cars, and fuel costs, or may be calculated using personal auto mileage at the IRS standard mileage rate. Lodging and meals are capped per diem. KCBS Reps are encouraged to utilize the most cost-effective travel methods. Receipts for all travel and expenses must be submitted with the KCBS Rep invoices. For the current mileage rate, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov and search “mileage.”

Airfare plus ground transportation, and/or personal auto mileage at the IRS standard mileage rate on the day of the contest and/or cost of lodging and meals. Receipts from representatives will be submitted with the Representatives' invoices. (for the current rate on mileage, please visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov and search “mileage”)

Balance of KCBS fees and KCBS Contest Representative's reimbursements are due at the end of the contest day. KCBS fees are due and will be accepted by check by the KCBS Contest Representative. Any reimbursements due to the Contest Representatives should be paid directly to them.

In the event of cancellation either by the contest organizer or by KCBS, all previously paid expenses shall be non-refundable. The contest organizer will also reimburse the KCBS Representative(s) any prepaid expense incurred by them which cannot be recouped.

The Sanctioning Process

Select Contest Dates
KCBS recommends beginning contest planning as early as possible, ideally at least one year before the desired contest date. When selecting a date, organizers should check for other competition barbeque events in the area on the chosen weekend. The KCBS website lists events under the EVENTS tab, as contests typically return on the same weekend each year.

Complete and Submit the Sanctioning Agreement and Fee
Submit the fully executed Sanctioning Agreement and the sanctioning fee to contest@kcbs.us at least 90 days before the contest date.

Approval of a KCBS Contest
All completed Sanctioning Applications submitted with the sanctioning Fee are considered for approval.
Applications are reviewed to ensure that contests do not conflict with other events in the same geographical area, considering team saturation, density, and KCBS Rep availability. If approved, the contest will be posted on the KCBS website, and KCBS will email the organizer a confirmation of approval. Organizers are responsible for verifying that the contest is listed correctly and notifying the KCBS office contact of any inaccuracies.

Organizer Training
All first-time KCBS organizers, or organizers hosting a first-time KCBS-sanctioned contest, are required
to attend and observe a KCBS-sanctioned contest similar to the type of event they are hosting at least 30 days prior to their own contest. For example, a Master Series organizer must observe a Master Series contest, while a Backyard or One Meat organizer may observe a contest of the same type or a Master Series contest.

KCBS Contest Representatives (Reps)

KCBS assigns, or allows organizers to select, two trained KCBS Reps, depending upon the type of sanctioned competition. KCBS Reps serve as mentors, sharing positive contest experiences and providing guidance. Once a contest is sanctioned, assigned KCBS Reps act as the primary KCBS contact and provide guidance and support during the event. They serve as the main point of contact during the contest and assume responsibility for scoring issues, rule interpretation questions, or judging inquiries. KCBS Reps bring proprietary rules, judging supplies, and established judging procedures to each contest.

Final

KCBS is available to assist organizers in ensuring every contest is a successful and memorable barbeque event. For questions or support, please contact the KCBS office at contest@kcbs.us or 816-765-5891.