Some of the nation’s top barbeque chefs are firing up their grills in southeast Iowa, gunning for the largest-ever prize in the history of the Kansas City Barbeque Society.

Fifty-four professional barbeque cooks are in Mount Pleasant this weekend competing for the grand prize of a $20,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle and $15,000 in cash.

One of the cooks, Larry Mays, says award-winning barbeque starts with good quality meat.

Teams are in Iowa from as far away as New York and California to compete for a total of $85,000 in prizes.

They’re cooking in five meat categories: chicken, ribs, pork, brisket and turkey.

Governor Chet Culver has proclaimed it an official State of Iowa BBQ Championship.

 

Radio Iowa