Where Hardware Meets Grilling
Ace Bbq Competition

Where Hardware Meets Grilling

Only 21 coveted places are available for competition! This is a community event sponsored by Ace on the Lake and Stittsworth Meats. Open to the public. Come out and watch as locals compete for prizes, and bragging rights to the best BBQ in Bemidji. If you think you can hang with the competitors, and your BBQ is the best, put your application in and compete! Either as a competitor or spectator, come on out and check out Bemidji’s hometown BBQ!

Schedule

  • 10:00am Doors open for competitors (with food already hot)
  • 11:00am Tastings open to public & Local Celebrity Judges
  • 2:00pm winners announced.
Register Today!
Close Up Grilling

Rules

  • Each contestant must provide completed protein to Ace by 10:30am 7/13/24 in serving/warning container.
  • Per the Minnesota Department of Health, this event is categorized as a potluck.
  • Participants are required to abide by Minnesota Dept of Health Food Safety Guideline
  • Cooking must be completed prior to arrival at Ace on the Lake and protein must arrive hot or at least 140 degrees and remain hot throughout the event.
  • Each competitor will oversee serving and portions to the public and judges at table space assigned.
  • Only rubs and sauces sold at Ace on the Lake can be used on the protein.

There is NO contest entry fee. A deposit fee per competitor is $100, due when competitor picks up protein and supplies form Ace on 7/10/24. Deposit will be refunded on the morning of competition
when protein is completed and presented to the judges.

Register Today!

Prizes include

Each Category (Chicken, Ribs, Anything Butt) plus invite to next year’s competition.

1st Place
$350.00 Ace gift card

2nd Place
$250.00 Ace gift card

3rd Place
$150.00 Ace gift card

People’s Choice Award - $500 prize value | Wall of Flame presented within Ace on the Lake

People’s Choice Award - $500 prize value

Wall of Flame presented within Ace on the Lake

Ironwood 885 Grill

Ace on the Lake will provide to all competitors

  • 1 fuel source (example: pellets, charcoal, propane)
  • 2 rubs from Ace’s wide selection
  • 2 sauces from Ace’s wide selection
  • One protein assigned (5/15/24) by Ace per applicant’s request.
  • 15lbs of boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 pork butts
  • 6 racks of pork ribs
Register Today!
Outdoor Grilling

Contestants must provide

  • Cooler to collect protein on 7/10/24. A warming/serving container for competitors’ protein.
  • Warmers will be available for rent if competitor requests rent of one by 7/1/24.
  • Crockpots are not allowed unless it warms to 140 degrees and stays at 140 throughout the event.
  • All heat sources must be electric.
  • Serving utensils
  • All proteins will be cooked on the competitor’s time and on with their equipment.
Register Today!

Online Registration

Limited spots available, please sign up and make this year’s BBQ showdown the best Bemidji has ever seen!

Limited spots available, please sign up and make this year’s BBQ showdown the best Bemidji has ever seen!

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Name
Address

Choice Of Meat

Please list in order of preference between 15lbs of Bone-In Chicken Thighs, 2 Pork Butt & 6 Racks of Pork Rips