This is a real thing? 95 Rock is one of the media sponsors for the upcoming Pork and Hops challenge. I understood it is professional BBQ competition. What I didn't get is that it's an official Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event!

I've been so busy I hadn't spent much time investigating the Pork and Hops event September 9th and 10th at Lincoln Park here in Grand Junction. This afternoon I finally took a few minutes to take a closer look and saw the familiar KCBS logo! I then saw the words that nearly brought tears to my eyes,"Want to become a Certified KCBS judge for the 2016  Pork & Hops Professional BBQ Competition"? You don't have to ask me twice!

Finally, a chance for this KC kid to feel at home. I've attended the American Royal World Series of Barbeque many times. It's a 36-year-old KC tradition. Back in the day, on a late October weekend, the lots around Kemper Arena in the Kansas City West Bottoms were filled with the wonderful aroma of hickory smoke. The event has grown into the world's largest BBQ competition. Last year, held at Arrowhead Stadium with over 600 teams and 50,000 attendees. This year its being moved to the Kansas Speedway due to the American Royal's fall dates and scheduling conflicts at the Truman Sports Complex.

Pork and Hops may be smaller by comparison, but the passion of the pitmasters will not be any less. Enough about barbeque. I'm getting hungry and need to get signed up to be an official KCBS judge for this years' Pork and Hops Challenge. See you there!

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