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| All judging activities for the cookoff took place in the party barn. |
A wedding venue makes a great choice as the site for a barbecue cookoff. The scenery is typically extraordinary, a large hall with extra side spaces is often available, and parking is more than adequate with overflow grounds for large crowds.
The Barn at Vino in
Stem, NC, is a popular choice for weddings and special events, and now it is also where BBQ teams and judges will convene each spring for a contest sanctioned by
Kansas City Barbecue Society.
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| The rolling green fields at the Farm included lots of spaces for vendors and activities. |
Located on a 95-acre property with two large ponds in rural Granville County, the farm is a clear favorite of local brides. The landscape includes rolling green fields and almost three acres of vineyards, and the drive leading to the barn is charmingly tree-lined. That scenery notwithstanding, it was even more amazing as smoke spiraled from cookers that 46 professional teams and 24 amateur teams were tending for
Jimbo’s Annual BBQ Competition.
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| Cooking teams are set up in assigned spaces near the barn. |
The contest attracted some of the top teams in the Southeast, and
the top-placing teams were familiar names. The event was also a fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, a charity organization that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at 2,500 locations to honor fallen military veterans. In addition to watching the BBQ teams compete, the spectators also enjoyed the scene with live music, an aerial display, 30 vendors, and food trucks.
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| Live music was part of the entertainment for the day. |
The contest marked a renewed interest in BBQ competitions as the effects of the pandemic seem to be under control and more events are being planned. For quite a few judges, this event was the first one for them in more than a year, and it was also the first event for several new judges.
The scenery at the Farm at Vino made the weekend special/ The cookoff in future years will be just as successful as the one this year.
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| When there's a party, the Stem Fire Department comes too. |
