CSU, Stanley Hotel announce $10,000 in prizes for BBQ Showdown Memorial Day Weekend

Contact for Reporters:
Jennifer Dimas
970-491-1543
Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu

Colorado State University and the historic Stanley Hotel will host the second annual BBQ Showdown during the Memorial Day weekend. The event will be hosted on the front lawn of the hotel and features a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned BBQ competition, special presentation from Professor Temple Grandin, hands-on cooking demonstration and workshop with Big Green Egg.

Lawn games, craft beer featured by local breweries and presented by CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology as well as Hospitality Management students, iHeart music and a visit from CAM the Ram will also be highlights of the event.

Estes Park summer tradition

The BBQ Showdown, which has quickly become a new Estes Park summer tradition, gives culinary aficionados, both amateur and expert alike, a chance to learn from and cook alongside some of CSU’s top BBQ experts.

“The CSU BBQ Showdown is the official kick-off to summer,” said Reed Rowley, spokesperson for the Stanley. “It’s all about a community coming together to celebrate food, family and our favorite summer pastime.”

This year’s BBQ competition is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) as a State Championship and Jack Daniels Qualifying Contest, as well as a Cup Qualifying Event for the Rocky Mountain BBQ Association.

$10,000 in cash prizes

Competitors will compete for $10,000 in cash prizes along with a variety of other great prizes, including Otterbox Coolers and much more.

“We’re thrilled to be back for year two and honored to have this event sanctioned by KCBS,” said Kevin Pond, head of CSU’s Animal Sciences program. “The competition gives us the chance to showcase the diversity and programming of Colorado State University.”

Participation in the competition is open to all skill levels. Competitors can enter their best brisket, pork butt, pork ribs, and chicken to win cash prizes in each category. Contestants also can compete for a People’s Choice award, voted on by event attendees.

Purchase tickets now

Packages with discounted Stanley Hotel rooms are available for BBQ contestants at www.stanleyhotel.com.

All event proceeds benefit Colorado State University’s Department of Animal Sciences.

Tickets are available for purchase through the CSU Animal Science website: http://ansci.agsci.colostate.edu/csubbq/.