The Kansas City Barbeque Society

KCBS Recommended Proactive Measures for Contests

We continue to face unprecedented times. As previously stated, the Contest Organizers are the entities responsible for their contests. KCBS will work with Contest Organizers to support them in their decisions to postpone or to proceed with their events, depending on when they are scheduled and based upon their direction from local health authorities in their area. Each Organizer should follow any standards or procedures put in place by their local health organizations or government. Each Organizer has final authority over their event. They may have additional protocols and practices that they mandate all Cooks, Judges, Contest Reps and Volunteers follow beyond the recommendations from KCBS. An Organizer may also require taking temperatures of all parties involved in the Cooking and/or Judging Process and refusing entry at their discretion.

As contests are able to proceed in their respective areas, KCBS has looked to the U.S. Center for Disease Control for their suggestions on "Steps to Plan, Prepare, and Proceed with a Mass Gathering.”
 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html#plan-prepare                 

Please see below for the proactive measures KCBS advises all parties involved in a KCBS-sanctioned contest follow moving forward:
 
  • All judging surfaces sanitized before judging and between each category (Rep Verified and accepted).
  • Leftovers automatically disposed into trash. No Extras tables.
  • Trash carried out of tent between categories.
  • All judging participants wear gloves, use utensils, and change between categories. (Nitrile) No excuses of allergies to latex etc.
  • Teams Must wear gloves when turning in entries and anti-bacterial wipes will be at the turn-in table and the team must wipe the external surface of the box at the table. (they will have to allow for extra time to make the KCBS window). This will not degrade the Styrofoam box.
  • Only essential personnel allowed into the tent.  All Judge/Team meetings held as Open Air as possible.  If possible, the judging tents if used have at least one open wall.
  • Table Captains will not take a seat in order to create more separation between the judges, i.e. 2 per side and one on each end. Where possible, double tables used so tables are essentially 8' long and twice as deep.
  • Teams are asked to keep ample personal space during the contest and the prohibition of communal shots, i.e. the good luck shots where someone hosts and shots are poured out of one bottle and plastic cups provided. etc.
  • Organizers are asked to make as much separation as possible of team spaces.
  • If Portable toilets are utilized, a minimum of 1 unit for 10 judges and if portable hand washing stations are used, one wash station for every 12 judges as well. (recommended quantities) 
  • Anyone walking into the tent must immediately use hand sanitizer prior to putting on gloves. (exception of those bringing in the trays for turn-in but they must wear gloves.)
  • During Meat Inspection, Team’s prep area must appear sanitary and teams must show possession of Disposable gloves, Sanitary Wipes or Spray, and Hand Sanitizer will be mandatory. If Inspector has a question as to the sanitary condition of the teams area, the Rep has the final authority to refuse participation with no refund. Meat inspection should be done outside of the cook’s trailer rather than having the Inspector come into the cook’s trailer.
  • It is recommended that masks are worn:
    • Cooks should wear facial masks and gloves while handling competition meats and garnish, as well as when turning in boxes to the turn-in table.
    • During any meetings (i.e. Cooks and Judges meetings, Awards, etc.)
    • Reps, Table Captains, Volunteers at all times
    • Judges at all times other than when judging each round of entries
  • It is recommended to create as much distance as possible between Cooks and Volunteers accepting the turn-ins.


  • These guidelines must be transmitted to the Teams and Judges by the organizer at least 48 hours prior to Team arrival verified by the Rep via copy on email.