Big Bad Wolf Gets “Smoked” In Laurie at Lake of the Ozarks

First posted on 07-16-2008

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. –The Three Little Pigs will get their revenge and visitors will get to sample some great food at the 16th annual Laurie Hillbilly Bar-B-Q Cook-Off, Aug. 1-2 at the Laurie Fairgrounds off Highway 5 at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks.

“Huffin’ and Puffin’ BBQ” will be this year’s comical theme, with a logo depicting the Three Little Pigs twirling the Big Bad Wolf on a spit over a fire pit. The 12th annual Kids Q also will give up-and-coming grillers, age 5-15, a chance to strut their barbeque stuff.

“Last year a record 80 teams participated and about 40 kids also competed,” says Susann Huff, Cook-Off chairperson and Laurie Events and Parks coordinator. “People love to participate and watch this event because it’s just a lot of fun. Also there are so many great family-oriented activities here at the Lake.”

Bar-B-Q Cook-off participants will compete in chicken, pork ribs, beef brisket, pork shoulder or Boston Butt categories. In addition, the “open” category includes anything prepared on-site. Cash prizes totaling $5,475 will be awarded, including $1,000 for the Grand Champion. Prizes also will be awarded to the top scoring local team and for the booth that best illustrates this year’s theme (expect to see a lot of pigs and wolves). Judging will start at noon on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Kids Q contestants will grill hamburgers, sausage or hot dogs. Prizes will include savings bonds, trophies, ribbons and certificates. Kids Q judging will start at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

The fun will begin Friday night with a dance from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Happy Holler Beer Garden featuring Cook-Off favorites, the Young Country band. Contestant-cooked chicken wing samples will be given away from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., donated by G2M Supermarket. Friday night activities will include the popular Buck-A-Duck Races (featuring yellow rubber duckies floating down a waterwheel-driven stream) plus a raffle for prizes including a $250 gas card and $100 cash. The Happy Holler Beer Garden will open at noon on Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Tasty lunches and dinners also will be available at the Hillbilly Smoke Shack.

The Hillbilly Bar-B-Q Cook-Off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The Laurie winner will earn an invitation to the world’s largest barbeque contest held in Kansas City each fall at the American Royal Livestock, Horse Show & Rodeo. The winner also may be selected for the annual Jack Daniel’s cook-off in Tennessee. Last year’s winning team was Kansas-based Four Men and a Pig.

Barbeque teams still may enter the Cook-Off for $125 per team. This year’s proceeds will help provide a new row of RV spots at the Fairgrounds campground and other park improvements, Huff says.

“The Cook-Off always is such a fun event for contestants and spectators. In fact we think it’s one of the best events at the Lake,” she adds. “We always look forward to it because the whole town smells like barbeque!”

For more information about the Laurie Hillbilly Bar-B-Q Cook-Off, call Susann Huff at 573-216-9358 or 573-374-8776, or send an e-mail to . And to find out more about all the events, activities, shopping, attractions, lodging and dining at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau’s web site, http://www.funlake.com.