120 teams to fire up grills at fair
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

The sheer spectacle, outlandish fun, good music and food of the Wharton County Youth Fair Bar-B-Cue Cook- Off, and the roaring delight of the 2nd Annual Antique Tractor Pull and Show are ready to roll next weekend.

The hugely popular cookoff drew a record 117 teams last year and this year 120 teams will set a new benchmark for entries.

"I turned down 10 teams this year, because I don't have room for them," said event Chairman Russell Machann. "I don't like to say no, but if I don't have room for them, I'm not going to put them in there."

The event is noted for outrageous, over-the-top efforts by the mostly-local teams, and around 20 teams this year will also bring along bands or deejays. The cook-off, which benefits the fair, began in 1994 with a modest 32 teams, and has just about outgrown the fair's 98-acre grounds.

Youth Fair President Darrel Kutach said there will be more space for cook-off participants and spectators this year.

"We have a little bit more room because we tore down the old beer garden," he said. "We are going to asphalt it to make more room for the barbecue cook-off and put some of our vendors there as well."

Cook-off contestants can enter any of a number of food categories - beans, chili, chicken, ribs or brisket - but the prize for putting on a good show really brings out the ham in the cooking teams.

"It's the showmanship that really makes our cookoff unique," Machann said. "They're not actors, but they try and act, which really makes it funnier."

The biggest competition is in the brisket category where the annual winner earns $1,000, a trophy and a spot at next year's Houston Livestock Show Barbecue Cook-off.

Last year, El Campo's Tejano Cookers took both the top two brisket positions, so their first place win advanced them to Houston and their second place secured them a free entry into this year's WCYF cook-off.

Teams begin to set up Friday, April 25, starting at 8 a.m., with a big party starting at 7 p.m. On Saturday, gates open at 9 a.m. for visitors to wander the grounds, sampling delicacies and enjoying the teams' antics. Judging begins at 10 a.m. Saturday for showmanship, followed at noon by bean and chili judging. At 2 p.m., judging begins for barbecued chicken, ribs and brisket, and awards will be presented around 3:30 p.m.

The tractor pull and show takes place along with the barbecue cook-off, and features machines from 1960 and older. There will be a pulling contest and show starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26. At 1 p.m. that day, entrants will hold a parade in the Johnson Arena.

Tractors will be classed according to weight, with 16 divisions and four classes within each division. Trophies will be awarded to the first place winners in each class. Tractor show entries will be awarded plaques for oldest tractor, bestrestored tractor and Judge's Choice. All show participants will receive a ribbon.

Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under age 5 are admitted for free. However, $20 season passes are available, which includes grounds admission and all rodeo performances and dance events.

To learn more about the fair, visit www.whartoncountyyouthfair. org.