Business Beat: July 7, 2010 July 7, 2010

Competitors at Eldon's Rockin' Barbecue festival.

On this week’s Business Beat from KBIA: Competitive barbecue teams serve up their best at Eldon’s Rockin’ Barbecue. Plus, in Fulton, one organization is trying to convince city officials to ban outdoor smoking. Hosted by KBIA’s Courtney Flatt.

Hear more here.

Barbecue – it’s a sacred rite of summer. The word brings visions of poolside parties with a grill or a family reunion in a park. But for competitive barbecue teams, the word means something more: a hobby, an obsession, and even some cash. The Kansas City Barbecue Society, or KCBS, sanctions barbecue contests nationwide. Teams submit their best chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket to be judged by KCBS-certified barbecue judges. Winners earn cash prizes, and the best get invited to big-money contests, like the American Royal Invitational. There the grand champs win $10,000.

Last week, we heard debate about a proposed smoking ban ordinance in Jefferson City. And in Fulton, one organization has tried to convince city officials to follow in the footsteps of other cities around the state and ban outdoor smoking.