Below are the 2023 rules and regulations. Click each arrow to expand that particular section.

2023 Official Rules and Regulations Judging Procedures

NOTICE: The Border War BBQ is a KCBS sanctioned event.  The 2021 Official Rules and Regulations/Judging Procedures are the Official Rules of the Border War BBQ, except where otherwise noted for special categories or ancillary events. In the event of any discrepancy between the the rules on this site and the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall control and govern. The complete 2023 rules are available on the KCBS website by visiting the link below.

KCBS 2023 Official Rules

KCBS logo

The Kansas City Barbeque Society
2519 Madison Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816-765-5891 or 1-800-963-KCBS
Fax: 816-765-5860
E-Mail: [email protected]   www.kcbs.us

Kids-Q Contest
Contest Overview. The contest will be held at 8:00 pm on Friday evening for kids ages 5-15. There will be two divisions and Seniors and Juniors, which will be determined by splitting up the age groups as evenly as possible once we know how many kids are participating. We encourage teams to pre-register their kids prior to the event by emailing us the name and age of each Kids Q Contestant. Email pre-registrations will cease at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 18. Payments may be made through on-line registration on the event website. Payments and registrations will taken until the beginning of the Contestant’s Meeting on Friday.

Contestants’ Meeting. The Kids Q contestants’ meeting will be at 5:30 on Friday, October 21st at the event tent.

Preparation. Each contestant will be asked to provide an entry prepared with meat provided by the contest organizer at the Kids Q Cook’s meeting. Kids are not required to turn in six pieces. Judges will be provided with knives for cutting. Garnish is optional and if used, is cook’s choice, meaning KCBS rules for garnish will not apply.

All Kids Q cooking will take place at the TEAM COOK SITE and they may use any cooker or grill on the contest site. Entrants will need to provide their own seasonings, sauces, etc.

This is about letting the kids cooking and having fun with their entries. While parents should be around to supervise for safety, and may ONLY help with tasks deemed potentially dangerous such as working with a knife or starting fires, we encourage them to let the kids be creative with their entries and allow them to have fun. However, kids are expected to do the work, NOT the parents.  Contest volunteers will be roaming the contest area to be sure all rules are followed and that kids are doing the work. This includes garnish boxes. Please do not force us to make a very tough decision by doing the work for your child.

Entry. Each contestant will receive a traditional 9×9 turn-in box, but presentation is anything goes. The only requirement is that the sticker or team number be prominently displayed and provided with the entry.

Judging. Judging will be blind. Judging will begin Friday at 8:00 pm. Juniors age group will turn-in between 7:55 and 8:05 pm. Seniors’ 10-minute turn-in window will be announced at the Kids Q Cooks meeting. Turn-in will be at the turn-in table at the event tent. Contestants are not required to turn in six pieces. Table Captains & Judges will be provided with knives for cutting.

Prizes. Prizes for EACH age group will be as follows: 1st Place — $40 + Ribbon; 2nd Place — $25 + Ribbon; 3rd Place — $10 + Ribbon;  All contestants will get a place ribbon or a participation ribbon. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

Booze-B-Q Contest
Contest Overview. The Booze-B-Q Contest will judge an entree, appetizer or side dish that is prepared with “booze.”

Preparation. Each contestant will be allowed to provide one Booze-B-Q entry. Entries must be an appetizer, entrée or side dish, and cannot be a dessert or alcoholic drink. The entry must be prepared on site, but may be pre-marinated or seasoned. If the cut of meat is the same as one of the four main KCBS categories, the pre-marinated or seasoned if identified specifically to the meat inspector and teams will be required to turn in both cuts of meat or face disqualification in both categories.

The purpose of the competition is to use an alcoholic ingredient (such as beer, wine or liquor) to provide a unique flavor or dish to the judges in the preparation of a BBQ entry. The booze should be used to enhance the entry, be somewhat recognizable in the flavors of the entry, and not added just as a means to provide intoxicating properties. Any alcoholic drinks or desserts submitted for entry will be scored as a disqualification if entered.

Entry. Each contestant will receive a traditional 9×9 turn-in box, but it does not have to be used. KCBS garnish rules do not apply. Entries may be pre-cut into 6 pieces for the judges or presented as a whole. Entrants are encouraged to have entries accompanied by an information card which indicates the alcoholic beverage(s) used in the preparation of the entry.

Judging. The contest will begin at 9:00 pm on Friday evening. Judging will be blind. Table Captains & Judges will be provided with knives for cutting. Entries will be judged on Appearance, Taste and Originality/Use of Booze. They will be weighted the same as the 3 KCBS judging criteria, with Originality/Use of Booze replacing Tenderness.

On Friday evening, each team will be assigned a “Group” window in which they will turn-in between 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm. This is done to insure freshness and temperature of entries. The number of groups and times will depend on the numbers of teams entering the contest. However, the window should be in 10 or 15 minute increments depending on the number of teams. Judging will be at the at the judging tent. Contestants are not required to turn in six pieces. Table Captains & Judges will be provided with knives for cutting.

Prizes. Prizes will be as follows: 1st Place — $100 + Ribbon; 2nd Place — $75 + Ribbon; 3rd Place — $50 + Ribbon; 4th Place — Ribbon; 5th Place — Ribbon. Winners will be announced at the Saturday afternoon awards ceremony.

Sausage Category
Contest Overview. The Sausage Contest will judge an entree, appetizer or side dish that is prepared with sausage.

Preparation. Each contestant will be allowed to provide one Sausage entry. The entry must be prepared on cooked on site, but may be pre-marinated or seasoned.

Entry. Each contestant will receive a traditional 9×9 turn-in box and all KCBS rules will apply, except for garnish.  Entries must be have at least 6 pieces for the judges.

Judging. The contest will be judged as an additional category at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Judging will be blind.  Entries will be judged on and weighted according to the 3 KCBS judging criteria.

Prizes. Prizes will be as follows: 1st Place — $100 + Ribbon; 2nd Place — $75 + Ribbon; 3rd Place — $50 + Ribbon; 4th Place — Ribbon; 5th Place — Ribbon. Winners will be announced at the Saturday afternoon awards ceremony.

Dessert Category
Contest Overview. The Dessert contest will begin at 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.  Judging will be blind.

Preparation. Each contestant will be allowed to provide one dessert entry. The entry may be prepared off site, but desserts are to be prepared by a team member and not store bought.

Entry. Each contestant will receive a traditional 9×9 turn-in box, but it does not have to be used. KCBS garnish rules do not apply.  Entries may be pre-cut into 6 pieces for the judges or presented as a whole.

Judging. The contest will be judged as an additional category at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Judging will be blind. Table Captains & Judges will be provided with knives for cutting. Entries will be judged on Appearance, Taste and Originality. They will be weighted the same as the 3 KCBS judging criteria, with Originality replacing Tenderness.

Prizes. Prizes will be as follows: 1st Place — $100 + Ribbon; 2nd Place — $75 + Ribbon; 3rd Place — $50 + Ribbon; 4th Place — Ribbon; 5th Place — Ribbon. Winners will be announced at the Saturday afternoon awards ceremony.