Katie Chavez, right, hands out samples of bison tenderloin with chimichurri sauce after a demonstration by Sterling Smith of Loot N Booty BBQ in Scottsdale, Arizona. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021.
Jill Toyoshiba
jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
There wasn’t a Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium this weekend but the parking lot there was filled with the familiar smell of smoked meats and smoldering hardwoods as if fans were there tailgating before a game. It wasn’t fans though this time. The pros were there for the Kansas City BBQ Festival.
The festival is not like a traditional barbecue competition. It’s more of a barbecue exhibition where pitmasters from Kansas City and other parts of the country shared or sold their smokey creations to the ‘cue fans in attendance. The pros shared some of there knowledge with demonstrations and tutorials. Bands were also on hand for entertainment.
Here are some photos from the event.
Samantha Mulford of Ottawa bastes and Anna Hays of Pleasant Hill turns ribs as they caramelize the ribs over the fire Sunday at the Kansas City BBQ Festival at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.. Mulford and Hays are volunteers with Operation BBQ Relief, a non-profit that feeds first responders and people affected during a disaster and also provides hunger relief to communities with food insecurity. The three-day festival concluded Sunday. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Blues Hog displayed its trophy from the Memphis in May International Festival. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Kaylee Larson, right, and her mother Lori Larson of Olathe wear promotional packs from Smithfield while ordering from a vendor. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Quite Frankly performed at the Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The three-day festival concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Reflected in the mirror, Jason Baker with Green Mountain Grills takes a tray of bison tenderloin with chimichurri sauce samples over to be handed out to people watching a demonstration by Sterling Smith, right, of Loot N Booty BBQ in Scottsdale, Arizona. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Nick Woolfolk with Ole Hickory Pits shuts the door after showing people the inside of “Hogzilla,” a Missouri-made pit. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Volunteers with Operation BBQ Relief flip over some ribs they are carmelizing. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Jesse Weiser with GQue BBQ of Denver, Colo,, puts a batch of chicken in a pit. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Jerrell Stevens prepares orders of pulled pork nachos at the Plowboys Barbeque booth. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Pulled pork nachos was one of the offerings at the Plowboys Barbeque booth. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. File photo
Five-year-old Emmett Stutz poses with KC Wolf as his mother Carrie Stutz takes a photo and Emmett’s brother Thomas Stutz, 4, tries to get a look. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Eight-year-old Jacob Watson of St. Louis poses with KC Wolf as his mother Letica Watson takes a photo. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival, in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Blues Hog placed sauce tables around the site. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Staff Sgt. Kirby Karnes, left, and Spc. Travis Stevenson with the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion try to get 5-year-old Michael Brewer of Blue Springs to do a push up as Michael’s parents, Sabrena and Caleb Brewer, wait to see if Micheal will do it. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Starhaven Rounders performed at the Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The three-day festival concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Megan Day of Burnt Finger BBQ does a demonstration on competition rib preparation. The three-day Kansas City BBQ Festival in the parking lot of the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium concluded Sunday, July 11, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
This story was originally published July 11, 2021 at 7:21 PM.
Visuals Editor Chris Ochsner leads The Star’s talented staff of photojournalists and video producers. He’s had his hand in directing visuals coverage since 2002. Ochsner led the visuals team in its coverage of four Super Bowls and two World Series.
