Ben Shinogle, right, slices brisket as his brother, Charlie, assists him. Ben, who is 15, competed in Saturday’s McLouth BBQ Blowout. The event was at Prairie Park in McLouth.

McLouth ? Ben Shinogle asked for a Weber Bullet smoker for a gift at the age of 10. Now 15, the Platte County, Mo., resident is entering area barbecue contests.

Saturday, he was in Jefferson County for the McLouth BBQ Blowout.

He said the most successful meat he prepare is ribs, while brisket is “fun to eat,” he said. His barbecue team name is Ben and Jerry’s, as his barbecue partner is Jerry Lowe.

He said he doesn’t plan to make a career out of cooking and will stick to it being a hobby. As his older brother Charlie said, “It’s a tasty one.”

The team was one of 48 squads at the barbecue contest Saturday at Prairie Park in McLouth.

Teams prepared meats such as ribs, pork and brisket for local judges.

Jerrad Humerickhouse and Mike Glassel of McLouth were two of several judges at Saturday’s blowout, also known as the Northeast Kansas State BBQ Championship, a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event.

Humerickhouse said he’s been a judge the past five years, noting “it’s probably the best job you can get.”

He said judges are told if they eat about an ounce of each entry, they consume about 1 and a half pounds of meat.

Glassel, who judged for the first time Saturday, said he was sticking to the 1-ounce rule, give or take.

“I eat a lot more than that,” Glassel said with a laugh. “I’m going for four (pounds of food) in the gut.”

Grand champion at the event was Smokin’ R’s, while KC Can Crew earned reserve champion status and T’s Smokin’ Pit placed third overall.

In addition to barbecue, a bounce house, petting zoo, pony and camel rides, motorcycle show and a baked-pie contest were other attractions at the event.