Dexter, Missouri - Among many of the activities at the 2013 DHS Homecoming was the DHS Bearcat BBQ Contest sponsored by County Wide Insurance Agency. 

"There is just something special about having the BBQ smoke and grills going during a football tailgate, and these guys know how to do it right," commented Alan Hedrick of County Wide Insurance.  "I'm really thankful that James Kaufman, Doug Cox and Dallas Buchanan came out to be involved."

Teams began to arrive at 2:30 AM to begin the process of preparing their contest meats for their 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30 AM turn in times.  With three categories of chicken, pork ribs and pork shoulder, each team worked to  distinguish their own special taste to win the taste buds of the judges.

The Bearcat BBQ Contest worked in conjunction with the Dexter Bearcat Football team head coach Justin Peden

"Most of the time it's tough to get the players out of bed on Saturday morning after a game, but much easier when you ask them to show up to eat BBQ," commented Coach Peden. 

The good weather experienced on Friday evening turned more unfavorable on Saturday morning.  Eventually, the clouds rolled in and the rain began to soak down the area prior to the 8:00 AM start of the Bearcat First National Bank Color Burst Run.  Just like the participants of the Color Burst Run, these BBQ masters were able to push through the scattered showers of the morning.

"We were well into the process before we got any rain," noted James Kaufman, of the First Commercial Bank team.  "We've been wet before so we all just huddled together and kept the smoke rolling in the pits."

Dexter has a longstanding tradition of a BBQ community so it was a natural to include the BBQ contest as one of the many Homecoming events.  Not only do we have the great local restaurants but the community and area is filled with BBQ pit-masters that spend a lot of their own personal time helping local charities raise funds through bar-b-que fundraisers.

In a recent crappie fishing fundraiser for the The Ben Kruse 18-Fore Life Foundation, these three teams joined together to cook Boston butts for that event and raise additional funds for the charity.  Good friends that enjoy a good weekend at a BBQ contest, Doug, James and Dallas have actually competed previously as members of the same team and have performed very well.  For this event, they graciously decided to divide up and work with local businesses to enter a team.

As many of the events held this weekend found a group or club at DHS to affiliate, the BBQ contest had chosen the Bearcat Football team as their affiliate school group.  Head Coach Justin Peden was excited to offer up any help needed.  He had no idea at that point that volunteering to help could be that much fun and satisfying.  

Coach Peden had his Bearcats on hand to perform the judging duties.  As this was their first opportunity to be a "BBQ Judge", they were quickly rushed through a crash course of the disciplines of appearance, tenderness, juiciness, texture and taste of each category.  Categories are weighted in each division to provide a fairness in the judging process.  Each student-athlete did a remarkable job of eating and a great job of scoring the contestants.

When the judges sheets were totaled and a winner determined, Doug Cox of the Midsouth Butt Rubs, Painting and Drywall was found to the the Grand Champion of the 2013 Bearcat Homecoming BBQ Contest. 

Chicken Category:  Midsouth Butt Rubs, Painting and Drywall and Doug Cox were the winners of the first place trophy in the Chicken Division with a total score of 253 points.  First Commercial Bank and James Kaufman came in 2nd place and County Wide's Premium Smokers with Dallas Buchanan and Zach Hedrick received the third place trophy.

Rib Category:  County Wide's Premium Smokers with Dallas Buchanan & Zach Hedrick were the winners of the first place trophy in the Rib Division with a total score of 255 points.  Midsouth Butt Rubs, Painting and Drywall and Doug Cox won the 2nd place trophy and First Commercial Bank and James Kaufman received third place.

Shoulder Category:  First Commercial Bank and James Kaufman were the winners of the first place trophy in the Shoulder Division with a total score of 237 points.   Midsouth Butt Rubs, Painting and Drywall and Doug Cox and County Wide's Premium Smokers with Dallas Buchanan and Zach Hedrick tied for 2nd place.  Midsouth was deemed the winner in a BBQ scorecard playoff with a score of 227.4 to Premium Smokers 226.9. 

Overall it was a great event and many attendees expressed an interest in getting involved next year should the contest be carried into a 2nd Annual event.  Congratulations and thank you to all the participants and the many members of the County Wide Insurance team that helped to organize and setting up the event.

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Additional Pictures of Event Located Here:

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