National Barbecue Festival (NBF) Rules

By participating in the 2025 National Barbecue Festival Contest (the “Contest”), you agree that you have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (the “Official Rules”).  If you do not agree to be bound by these Official Rules, you should refrain from entering this Contest.

SPONSOR

JAM52 Productions LLC, DBA National BBQ Festival, 30 N Gould St #47895, Sheridan, WY 82801 is the “Sponsor” of the Contest.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Contest, entrants (“Entrants”) must complete and submit all registration forms, with appropriate entry fee (collectively, the “Entry”), online at nationalbbqfest.com (the “Website”) no later than April 15, 2025 Date. Deadline may be extended at the discretion of Sponsor. Website shall be “live” on or about Feb 15, 2025, or a date otherwise communicated by Sponsor. Entry fees shall be set forth on the Website. All Entries are recorded on a first-come first serve basis for all available openings per Category. Any Prize(s) (defined below, if any) shall be issued to the individual named as “Chief Cook” in the Entry, unless otherwise agreed by Sponsor and Team(s) (defined below). All major credit cards are accepted forms of payment; and all entry fees are non-refundable.

ELIGIBILITY

The Contest is open to individuals thirteen years of age (13+) and older, who are legal residents of any of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) or Canada (excluding Quebec, unless otherwise approved by Sponsor) excluding the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members (whether or not related) of each such employee.) However, all Entrants under 18 years of age must have parent/legal guardian enter on their behalf, and understand and agree that any Prize(s) shall be issued to such parent/legal guardian. For such eligible individuals under 18 years of age, all references herein to “Entrant” shall refer to both the underage individual entrant and such individual’s parent/legal guardian.) Eligible Entrants must also be available to travel to (at Entrants’ sole cost) and participate in person at the event site, on the event date and time(s) indicated on the Website. All Entrants must comply with the laws of their respective jurisdiction, including but not limited to tax and consumer protection laws. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility and compliance with applicable laws. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, municipal and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law. Entrants may enter as teams (“Team(s)”) of multiple individuals (subject to Sponsor imposing limits on Team numbers due to safety or other reasonable concerns), provided each such individual is named in the Entry and meets these eligibility requirements (unless otherwise approved by Sponsor in its sole discretion).   

CATEGORIES

Contest will include the following five (5) categories (the “Categories”):  Chicken, Beef Brisket, Pork (shoulder or butt, 5 lbs. or more), Pork Ribs and Whole Hog (85 lbs. or more dressed).  No team may cook more than 3 Categories and must enter three (3) Categories to be eligible to win Grand Prize or Reserve Grand Prize (described below). However, each Team may only have one (1) entry per Category. No changes in Category choice are allowed after registration form is submitted.

  • COOKING:

    • COOKED ONSITE: All meats must be cooked onsite without precooking or pre-marinating. Entrants must have their meat inspected before cooking or preparing to cook. (See schedule of events, to be posted on Website, for inspection times). Only after official inspection can the meat be marinated, rubbed, etc., as the Entrants wish. All meat must remain on each Team’s site after inspection and ready for tum-in. Entrants may trim their Entries before they are inspected for competition.

    • MEATS: Entrants may either bring their own meats for Contest (provided such meats meet all requirements of these Official Rules, are subject to inspection by Sponsor prior to cooking, and Entrants are able to provide proof or purchase/receipt for such meat(s), indicating seller); or Sponsor shall offer meats for each Category for sale for each Category. Upon registration, Entrants must indicate whether they plan to bring their own meat(s) or purchase meats from Sponsor. Sponsor shall publish costs of purchasing meat(s) on the Website.

    • SANITATION: Entrants must prepare and cook meat in a sanitary manner. Cooking conditions are subject to inspection by the Judges (defined below), Sponsor and local health department. Infractions identified by the Judges shall be immediately corrected or the Entrant(s) will be subject to disqualification. All meat must be kept at a temperature of 140°F or higher while cooking or being held after cooking and be kept at 40°F or lower before cooking. All cooking areas must be maintained in a neat and orderly manner and left as it was on arrival, with trash appropriately tied in bags and placed in containers provided. No pets are allowed. Additionally, each team must have a handwashing station. A hand wash station meeting the Nassau County Health Department’s minimum requirements is required for each competitive team: a five [5] gallon beverage dispenser with a continuous flow spigot, supplied with warm water, hand soap and disposable towels. A catch-bucket for wastewater is required. Hand sanitizer is not a substitute for hand washing. Each team must provide an adequately sized closed container for wastewater collection and removal. Wastewater must be disposed of in an approved, sanitary manner. Wastewater may NOT be discharged onto the ground. The National BBQ Festival can supply teams with water and a service to remove wastewater.

    • ENTRIES PER PIT: Only one Team will cook on each site on a given BBQ pit. Teams may use more than one pit/grill for their Entries but that pit/grill may not be used for another Team’s Entry in this Contest, unless otherwise approved by Sponsor.

    • OPEN FIRES: Open fire pits or barrels may be used in some areas. In the interest of safety, a barrier must be placed around such open fires. Grease and ash barrels shall be available throughout the area. All teams must pass a fire inspection before starting their pits/grills.

    • BBQ PITS: All pits will be allowed, including electric, gas, charcoal, pellet and/or wood. Specify type of pit on registration Entry for staff to anticipate team needs.

    • COOKING TEAM SITES: Regular Team sites are 20'X20', with 20'X40' sites also available. Teams will be assigned by Sponsor to sites upon arrival. 

    • COOK'S MEETING: At least one member of each Team, including the person listed in Entry as Chief Cook, must attend the mandatory Cook's Meeting. Tum-in boxes will be distributed, and questions may be answered at this time. (See Schedule of Events on Website for times.)

JUDGING PROCESS

BLIND NUMBER SYSTEM: A blind judging system will be used. Each team will be issued turn-in boxes with their Team name. However, the name will be changed to a number before being submitted to the judging area. Scores will be available following the awards ceremony.

JUDGING TRAYS: Styrofoam trays (9'X9*) with hinged lids and without dividers will be given to each Team for ALL Entries. All trays are to be clean and free of any markings. Marked entries may be disqualified at Sponsor’s discretion. Entrants are responsible for ensuring containers remain clean and undamaged.

  • JUDGING TRAY CONTENTS: If Entrants wish to serve sauce with an Entry, it should be served on the meat - not on the side. No pooling of sauce allowed in turn-in box. NO garnishes or condiments are allowed in turn-in box. The following is also required:

    • Chicken: At least seven (or more) individual servings of chicken. This can be whole pieces (breast, leg, thigh, etc.) or halves, quarters, etc. cut into individual servings.

    • Beef Brisket: At least seven slices of beef brisket (or more) must be served in the container provided. No chopped or pulled brisket.

    • Pork Ribs: At least seven individual ribs (or more) must be placed in the container. All rib cuts allowed with the exception of country-style ribs.

    • Pork: Pulled, sliced, or chopped – Entrants’ choice.

    • Whole Hog: Cooks will select samples from the shoulder, ham and loin from the whole hog (each separated) in the presentation box with enough of each to serve at least seven. No other parts of the whole hog are allowed in the box.

TURN-IN TIMES: A tum-in window of 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the set tum-in time will be recognized. Judging trays presented before or after the turn-in window will not be accepted. (See Schedule of Events on Website for turn-in times.)

JUDGING CRITERIA: Five (5) or six (6) independent, experienced, qualified judges (the “Judges”) will be assigned to judge each Entry. Each cooking Entry will receive 6 scores. Judges will assign a score of 60 to 100 for each sample after having tasted each sample. Each sample is to be judged on its own merit by using 1/10th point increments. (ex. 60.1 to 100.9). Scores from Judges for each Entry shall be combined to determine Entry combined score. Judges will judge based on appearance, taste and tenderness. Judges’ decisions are final.

POTENTIAL WINNERS/TIES: Potential Winners (defined below) are subject to verification, including verification of age, and submission of accurate W9 form.  The next-best Entry (as judged by the Judges pursuant to the criteria above) for the applicable Category may be selected as a replacement potential Winner if a potential Winner (a) cannot be reached, (b) is disqualified for any reason, including failure to comply with these Official Rules, (c) refuses to permit display of the winning Entry/photography, or (d) cannot, does not or will not accept or receive the Prize for any reason. In the event of tie score for any Category, Entries may be re-evaluated by Judges and scores for taste shall determine Winner(s).

WINNERS/PRIZES: Winner of each Category (and the Grand Prize and Reserve Grand Prize) (collectively, the “Winner(s)”) shall be announced at the Contest event site, per the Schedule of Events on Website. “Prizes” for each Category and for the Grand Prize and Reserve Grand Prize are as set forth on the Website, with the approximate retail value of all Prizes combined being $94,000. For clarity, the Grand Prize shall be awarded to the Entrant scoring the most combined points in such Entrant’s three (3) Categories, and the Reserve Grand Prize shall be awarded to the Entrant scoring the second most combined points in such Entrant’s three (3) Categories. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitutions or cash redemptions. Odds of winning depend on the quality of the Entries and the number of eligible Entries received. In the case of unavailability of any Prize, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a Prize of equal or greater value. In the event there is not at least one Entry per Category, Sponsor reserves the right to not award a Prize.  All unspecified expenses (including, without limitation, any travel, lodging, etc.) are the responsibility of Entrant(s). Prize(s) may not be sold or refunded for any monetary gain. All federal, state, provincial, and local taxes, including any cross-border tax obligations, are the sole responsibility of the Winners. Canadian Winners may be subject to additional tax reporting requirements under Canadian law. Sponsor is not responsible for any tax liabilities arising from prize winnings

ADDITIONAL TERMS

Except where prohibited by applicable law, participation in the Contest constitutes each Entrant’s consent to Sponsor’s use of the Entrant’s name, city, state, county, likeness, photograph/video, social media handle(s), statements made by the Entrant about the Contest, Sponsor, and/or Prize information for purposes solely related to the Contest in any media, at any time, without further payment or consideration, including, but not limited to, posting winner lists.  

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, postpone or suspend the Contest should a virus, bug, computer or phone problem, unauthorized intervention, major weather issue or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control, corrupt the administration, security or proper play in the Contest.  Should Sponsor do so (including, without limitation, if an alternate date(s) for the cooking event(s) is offered by Sponsor due to above reasons), Entrant shall have no claim against the Released Parties (defined below), Entrants shall not be refunded any fees, and Entrants shall have forfeited the Contest if they cannot participate on the alternate date(s). Entrants shall have no claim against the Released Parties and Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage the Contest or related websites or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be in violation of criminal and civil law, and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. If the Contest or a particular portion thereof is canceled or terminated before the designated end date of the Contest for any reason, Sponsor may (if possible) select Winner(s) based on the cooks received as of the date of the event giving rise to the termination. 

Only the type and quantity of prizes described in these Official Rules will be awarded. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. If any provision of the Official Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, then the Official Rules will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein.

RELEASE

Entrants agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor, its clients, Nassau County, their respective subsidiaries and affiliated companies, units and divisions; and any of their advertising agencies, promotional agencies, marketing partners or prize suppliers; each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees; and each of these companies’ and individuals’ respective successors, representatives and assigns; and any Canadian entities involved in the administration of the Contest (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim, liability, or cause of action, including, but not limited to, damage to or loss of property, or injury/death, arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. This release is binding on all Entrants, including Canadian residents, and enforceable in both the United States and Canada.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

Except as provided by applicable law, the Released Parties are not responsible, to the extent permitted by law, for: (A) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Entrant, printing errors or omission or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (B) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (C) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (D) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of Entries; or (E) any injury or damage to person or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason an Entrant’s Entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, Entrant’s sole remedy is another Entry in the Contest, if possible. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. NOTHING IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL DISCLAIM, LIMIT OR EXCLUDE LIABILITY FOR ANY LIABILITY THAT MAY NOT BE DISCLAIMED, LIMITED OR EXCLUDED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW.

APPLICABLE LAW/JURISDICTION

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Canadian Entrants consent to the jurisdiction of New York courts and waive any objection to venue or forum. Sponsor reserves the right to enforce these rules in accordance with applicable Canadian law where necessary. Any action to enforce these Official Rules shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located or having jurisdiction in New York County, New York, and Entrants irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts and agree to waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum for the resolution of such action.