Terms & Conditions

1. Request for Sanctioning Form – All Contests, new and repeat, MUST submit this form, signed and dated where indicated. The FBA Board of Directors will not approve sanctioning with out a signed and dated copy.

Also, first year contests MUST have a site inspection by an FBA representative.
Make certain the Physical Contest Location on the form is accurate.

• Enclose the proper form with your deposit check and mail to the address on the form.

The purpose of these competitions is to bring together barbecue enthusiasts with various levels of cooking experience and knowledge. Then by utilizing a uniform set of contest rules and regulations the finished product is judged by trained individuals who will determine winners in each meat category and ultimately a grand and reserve champion of the contest.

The contest organizer(s) by requesting FBA sanctioning and paying the sanctioning fee as specified herein agrees to be bound by these guidelines and all FBA rules and regulations.

For the purposes of this agreement, a cook team is defined as either a Professional division team or a Backyard team.

1. The contest organizer(s) must apply to the FBA Board of Directors a minimum of six (6) months prior to proposed date of contest.
2. A $75.00 non-refundable application fee must be included with the application.
3. 3-Year Option: A $150.00 non-refundable application fee will guarantee three FBA sanctioned contests and their dates in three consecutive years. It also locks the total sanctioning fee for each year at the current price, subject only to an increase in the number of FBA Reps needed as per Section 4. Contest organizer(s) must select the exact dates on the application. For purposes of this option, the date of a contest is the date of the actual event – meat turn-in and FBA judging. Contest organizer(s) wishing to have their event on the “first weekend” of a particular month must define the actual dates.
4. Contest organizer(s) who wish to re-sanction for the same dates in a following year must do so within sixty (60) days of their event. Contests on a 3-Year Option have sixty (60) days from the date of the third event.
5. When making application for sanctioning, the contest organizer(s) agrees that all FBA rules, regulations and judging procedures will be followed.
6. Upon approval, the contest organizer(s) agrees to follow all FBA sanctioning requirements, including payment of all fees/expenses and prize money as outlined in Section 3.
7. Our annual meeting and elections are held on Labor Day weekend therefore we do not sanction any contest on Labor Day weekend.
8. The date of any FBA State Championship will not be used for any other contest in that state other than for the championship event.
9. First year contests and renewing contests that are moving to a new location require either a site inspection from an FBA rep or photos of the contest site clearly showing all areas to be used by the contest.
10. In the case of multiple requests for the same contest date a “Right of First Refusal” for previously sanctioned FBA contests shall apply. Prior years’ contests will have the opportunity to reserve dates and respond with (fifteen) 15 working days of the FBA receiving a request for contest sanctioning on dates that have been historically used. Courtesy calls shall be made for competing contest dates that fall within the Association’s 150 mile rule.
11. First year contest Organizers are required to attend an FBA Sanctioned Contest no less than 90 days prior to their event. Organizers who have previously run a sanctioned barbecue contest are exempt from this requirement.

1. All sanctioning fees must be received by the FBA at least 60 days prior to the contest date.
2. Contest organizer(s) must submit proof of liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000. This proof of insurance must come directly from the insurance carrier and shall name the FBA as an Additional Insured and must be received by the FBA no later than 30 days prior to the contest.
3. Failure to make payment for the sanctioning fees or to provide proof of liability insurance will result in FBA sanctioning being rescinded and forfeiture of all fees paid by the contest organizer(s).
4. Contest organizer(s) must submit a Letter of Guarantee from the contest sponsor(s) or underwriter to ensure that all prize money presented on contest application and advertising will be available for distribution at time of awards. Any checks awarded must be made payable to either the head cook of the team, cash, or with the payee left blank and must be negotiable at time of presentation.
5. Contest organizer(s) agrees to pay any and all applicable federal, state, and local taxes, fees, licenses, regulations, and permits arising from execution of contest.
6. Contest organizer(s) agrees that the official FBA logo will be used on any and all promotional and advertising material including but not limited to, contest application, posters, banners, T-shirts, hats, and flyers. The FBA will be announced as the official sanctioning body in any and all television, radio, internet or print reports. All Team and Judges Application forms for FBA-sanctioned BBQ contests must be reviewed and approved by the FBA Lead Contest Representative prior to printing or mailing.
7. All applications specified in paragraph 6 (above) shall contain the following text: “A quiet time is in effect from 11:00pm of the night prior to judging until 6:00am the following morning. Failure to observe this quiet time may subject the offender(s) to removal from the contest site.”
8. Contest organizer(s) agrees to pay all sanctioning expenses, as well as specified expenses for official FBA representatives present at the contest (see Section 5).
9. Contest organizer(s) must submit cook team application for approval by the FBA. The cook team application must state the prizes and payouts for the contest.
10. Contest organizer(s) assumes responsibility of recruiting cook teams and judges for the contest and agrees to provide the FBA with a list of all teams and judges that includes name, address, phone, fax, e-mail and any other pertinent data for inclusion in the FBA database. And to make contact with all parties including the FBA in the event of a problem.
11. Contest organizer(s) agrees to provide all specified materials designated by the FBA (see Section 6).
12. Contest organizer(s) may not cook as part of a cook team nor judge at their contest.
13. In the event of cancellation of the contest the contest organizer(s) shall immediately notify the FBA representatives by telephone, e-mail or telegram that the contest has been canceled. The contest organizer shall then make contact with all the cook teams and judges and notify them of the cancellation. All entry fees paid by the cook teams shall be reimbursed to the cook teams by the contest organizer within 15 days of the cancellation. The contest organizer shall submit a written document to the FBA indicating the reason for the cancellation and stating that all entry fees paid by the cook teams have been refunded in full. The organizer will forfeit all sanctioning fees paid to the FBA.
14. Contest organizer(s) agrees to provide free of charge a space in a highly accessible area, either in the cook area or the near the judging area, where the FBA may sell FBA logo merchandise. The Contest organizer(s) further agrees that all profits of such sales are to the sole benefit of the FBA. Contest organizer(s) agrees to allow FBA sponsors to market their products free of charge and to provide such space as necessary for FBA sponsors to that end. FBA sponsors agree to avoid any conflict with those already secured by the Contest organizer(s).
15. Contest organizer(s) is responsible for meat inspection prior to the contest. In the event the FBA is tasked with this chore, meat inspection will begin at noon on the day prior to the contest and end at the Cook Team Meeting. Contest organizer(s) will be responsible for any late arrivals. In no case will meat inspections begin earlier than 8:00am nor later than noon on the day prior to the contest.
16. The FBA reserves the right to waive any requirement or responsibility.

1. 1. The FBA will provide a minimum of three (3) FBA representatives to the sanctioned contest. Where the contest exceeds 48 teams, Professional, Backyard, or a combination of the two, or where there is both a Professional and a Backyard contest regardless of size, the FBA will provide one (1) additional representative. For each additional 12 teams the FBA will provide one (1) additional representative to a maximum of six (6) representatives at a contest. For  contests that exceed  72 teams, an additional representative shall be appointed for every additional 15 teams up to a maximum of eight (8) representatives at a contest.  Representatives seven and eight will report at 0800 on the day of the contest and work until all scores are entered into the computer and they are released by the lead rep. These representatives will act as contacts with the contest organizer prior to the date of the contest and will be on the contest site to monitor the contest and ensure that all FBA rules, regulations, and judging procedures are followed. The FBA will provide the Contest organizer(s) with official FBA rules and regulations.

2.  The FBA will provide the Contest organizer(s) with camera and print ready FBA logos for use as specified in Section 3.

3. The FBA will provide the Contest organizer(s) with one email broadcast to the entire FBA membership (judges & teams) advertising the contest.

4.  The FBA will provide judging slips and all necessary computer hardware and software.

1. The FBA agrees to sanction no contest within 200 miles of any other FBA sanctioned contest on the same dates.

1. Application fee (non-refundable, due with application) – $75.00 for one year, $150.00 for the 3-Year Option.
2. FBA sanctioning fee (non-refundable within the last 30 days prior to the contest) – $550.00 for a total of $625.00 for up to 3 FBA representatives. Each additional FBA representative required as per Section 4, article 1, will require an additional $150.00 in sanctioning fees with the exception of representatives number seven (7) and eight (8) who will require and additional $75.00 in sanctioning fees.
3. FBA representative’s one through six: expenses for round-trip mileage at the prevailing rate, as established by the Internal Revenue Service on the date of the event, or airfare and/or rental car; lodging – maximum three days and a maximum of $25.00 per day for meals – three days maximum. For representatives seven and eight: expenses for round trip mileage at the prevailing rate as established by the Internal Revenue Service, lodging – maximum of one night, and a maximum of $25.00 for meals – two days maximum.  Contest organizer(s) will make all reservations for lodging..

FBA sanctioning fees must be received by the FBA 60 days prior to date of the contest. The assigned representative(s) and the contest organizer will determine payment of representatives’ expenses. In the event of contest cancellation by the contest organizer(s), all previously paid expenses (such as airfare) shall be non-refundable; should sanctioning be canceled by the FBA previously paid expenses shall be refundable.

Contest organizer is responsible for payment of the FBA Representatives’ expenses at the end of the contest. If payment is not possible at that time it must be made within 10 days of the contest. Failure to remit timely payment may prevent further FBA sanctioning of the event.

For the cook teams:

1. “Clamshell” style Styrofoam containers – 9″ x 9″, un-sectioned with a lid. Minimum of 1 per team per category as well as backup supply of at least 20 containers and lids.

For the turn in area:

1. Two large tables with two chairs at each table and four additional large tables set end to end away from those two.

For the judging area:

1. Sufficient tables for the judges. 7 chairs per table. Table cloth on the table.
2. Bottled water – two bottles per judge, replaced as needed.
3. Napkins or paper towels – 1 package of at least 100 napkins or 2 rolls of paper towel per table, replaced as needed.
4. Disposable plates – at least 24 per table.
5. Four (4) sleeves of soda crackers per table. Or enough individually wrapped crackers for each table.
6. Cooler(s) with ice and bottled water.
7. Toothpicks.
8. Wet naps and / or running water for cleanup.
9. Sharpened pencils without erasers (i.e. golf scoring pencils). Pencils must be sharpened before the contest and a pencil sharpener must be available. One dozen pencils per table.

For the FBA rep:

1. RV or dedicated office space for the scoring computer. This space MUST include a dedicated power supply for the computer and printer.
2. Access to a copier.
3. A site layout showing the locations of the cook teams.
4. Updated team entry list showing the categories each team has entered.
5. Updated team list showing team name, head cook, address and phone number.
6. Confirmed judges list of all judges that have checked in.
7. Use of golf cart(s) or other transportation on and around the contest site.

In addition to the above, the turn in area and judging areas must be protected from the weather and sun.

Responsibilities of the Contest Organizer(s):

1. Provide a facility, preferably an indoor conference room or similar, with enough tables and chairs for the judge trainees and all judging supplies. (Refer to Section 6 for details)
2. Cover all trainer travel and lodging expenses as specified in Section 5, paragraph 3.
3. Provide a cook team to prepare chicken and pork entries for judging. The cook team will cook enough meat to fill at least 1 turn-in box of each category per judging table of 6 judges and a table captain.

Responsibilities of the FBA:

1. Provide for the trainer.
2. Provide the Judge’s Manuals and Scorecards.
3. Reimburse either the contest organizer or the appropriate cook team for the cost of the chicken and pork.
4. Handle all registrations for the class.