Barbecue lovers to descend on McLouth for annual event

By Lindsay Hanson ? She’s helped organize the McLouth BBQ Blowout for all its 13 years of existence, but Cheryl Wonnell still gets excited about the festival that more than triples the town’s population for a day.

“It’s the pork!” she said.

But pork, often a favorite, is just one of the event’s six categories.

Thirty-eight teams from as far away as South Dakota compete in smoked beef brisket, pork ribs, Boston pork butt, chicken, sausage and miscellaneous — which has been a smattering of proteins from deer to ostrich to moose meat, said Scott Perry, who designed the Web site for the Blowout.

“They’ve got the smokers going, and the smell of barbecue is permeating the town,” said Cliff Weeks, who has delegated the barbecue for most of its existence.

In McLouth, everyone wants to be a judge for the Blowout, said Doug Walbridge, a lifelong resident who has held one of the coveted spots since the contest’s inception. Forty-two will judge this year. Six spots opened up Friday and they were filled in an hour, Walbridge said. Why?

“You can eat about 4 pounds if you eat it all,” he said. “It’s awesome.”

The meat of the event is the food, but there’s a lot more. Spectators can take a spin on carnival rides for $2 each, sharpen paintball shooting skills at a target booth, watch a motorcycle show and fiddle over to the Bluegrass Jam, which runs all day today. Anyone who brings an instrument can play in an afternoon jam session.

There’s a citywide garage sale, a pie bake off, radio-controlled airplane demonstrations and a petting zoo.

What: McLouth BBQ BlowoutWhen: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Where: From Lawrence, drive north on North Second Street, continue on U.S. Highway 59 past Midland Junction, turn right on Wellman Road until you can turn right onto Kansas Highway 16-92.Follow the scent to “Smoker’s Alley” in Prairie Park.

The Blowout began Friday with the carnival, citywide street dance and paintball target shooting sponsored by McLouth 4-H.

Today, meat judging starts at 11 a.m. and an awards ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Spectators can peruse the booths and sample the juicy dishes entered by most of the contestants. They also decide who gets the People’s Choice trophy.

“And you watch them getting all the rubs, all the secret things they do,” Wollen said.

Contestants compete for $3,700 in prizes, the Northeast Kansas State Barbecue Championship, a spot in the American Royal Invitational this fall in Kansas City, Mo., and lottery entry for the Jack Daniels competition in Kentucky.

The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.