Another Juneteenth Cookoff

The winning team celebrates with their trophy.

The barbecue cookoff begun last year as a first-time contest at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC, was such a success, it’s now an annual event. 

Events to Commemorate Juneteenth

The competition was sponsored and planned by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at the college. Now officially known as the DEI Annual Barbecue Cookoff, the contest is one of several campus events to commemorate Juneteenth, which officially became a federal holiday last year on June 19 every year. It is now known as Juneteenth National Independence Day and celebrates the end of slavery on that date in 1865. 

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee sponsored and planned the cookoff.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation had freed anyone enslaved in most areas of the Confederacy almost 2½ years earlier, the proclamation’s decree was not being upheld in Galveston, Texas, and other areas of the state. On June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger issued a general order that proclaimed freedom for the enslaved in Texas, and Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to the enslaved Blacks there. 

The cookoff has become a part of the annual celebration.

Cookoff as a Way to Celebrate

In addition to the cookoff, the college’s commemoration again included music, spoken word, and other activities. Of course, the campus cookoff was the main attraction. It embraces a long tradition of including food events as the commemoration of Juneteenth spread over the years even before last year when it officially became a federal holiday. 

The winning entry was a clear favorite among the judges.

Although this time the cookoff was limited to only pork ribs, the judges were more than pleased to judge that category. Each entry was judged for appearance, taste/flavor, tenderness, and texture by a group of four judges. I was again fortunate to judge with members of the college faculty and staff, and we were unanimous in our choice of the winning team. 

The judges took their responsibilities very seriously.

The campus barbecue cookoff is well on its way to becoming a tradition. It’s a great way to celebrate a special day with food and comradery.

Several activities were held in the student center to commemorate Juneteenth.