DIDSBURY - The 4th annual two-day Didsbury Lion’s Club charity Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) master series barbecue contest was a hit with competitors and organizers, say officials.
The event featured twenty-nine of Canada’s top barbecue teams that battled for the coveted grand champion title and a chance to compete in the American Royal BBQ and Jack Daniel’s BBQ competitions.
The KCBS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and enjoying barbecue, the world’s largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts with members worldwide, and sanctions over 400 barbecue contests.
Held at the Didsbury Agricultural Society grounds just north of town, the two-day competition helped raise funds in support of the Didsbury Agricultural Society. The Didsbury Lions sold barbecue lunch, as well as 50/50 tickets and raffle tickets.
Competitors came from the district, Alberta and elsewhere in western Canada.
Didsbury’s Barry Kreiser, with Kreiser Barbecue Company, called the 2024 event a success with great competition, noting judges for the competition receive special training to pick the winner.
In the end, Rob Craats, from Red Cliff, was named grand champion and Janice Smella, from Calgary, was named reserve grand champion. Kreiser took home third place in brisket, first in chicken, and sixth overall.
The total amount raised during the event was not immediately available at press time Monday.
This year’s event ran concurrently with a Crooked Horn Junior Rodeo (CHJR) on Saturday, which was also well attended by competitors and fans. The complete results of the Didsbury rodeo will be posted on the CHJR website.
Lions Clubs International is the largest membership-based service club organization in the world, supporting causes of vision, hunger, the environment, childhood cancer, diabetes, humanitarian aid, youth, and disaster relief.
The Didsbury Lions Club has been in service since 1944 and has supported many projects and groups, including Mountain View Food bank, the Christmas hamper program, high school scholarships and local disaster relief.
