Arkansas event promoter helps take competition barbecue to another level
By Kell Phelps
National Barbecue News Publisher
kell@barbecuenews.com
 |
Photo courtesy of Cates & Co.
Myron Mixon grins from ear-to-ear after Jack’s Old South wins the Grand Champion title, as well as the $10,000 that went along with it, at the 2009 Smoke on the Water event.
|
Ronnie Cates and his company started a small barbecue event called Smoke on the Water back in 2000. Since then, the event has grown to become one of the largest barbecue events in the country. The 2009 event held last March paid out a total of $50,000 in prize money and set the stage for what is about to happen. On March 20, 2010, this event will double last year’s total payout and become one of competition barbecue’s richest payouts to date, with $100,000 total guaranteed prize money.
Looking back on the history of this event, Ronnie said his most memorable event would have to be the event that followed 9-11-2001. “It was only four days after the attacks on our country and no one really knew what was going to happen, but everyone turned out and we had a great event!” I personally do remember thinking how proud I was of every American who did not stop after these events. I think it showed us just how tough we could be when needed. Another great memory of this event for Ronnie was in 2006 when they gave out their very first $50,000 prize purse.
 |
Photo courtesy of Cates & Co.
David Hair proudly shows off the Grand Champion trophy and $10,000 check Jack’s Old South won at the 2009 Smoke on the Water event.
|
Ronnie told National Barbecue News about several other events he is planning. Ronnie stated, “If they find sponsors that can pay a million dollars to catch some fish, then I think we can find some sponsors that will pay a million dollars for some great barbecue!” He also added, “I will not sleep until we get a million dollar event!” Ronnie told us about plans for the world’s largest tailgate party to be held at Dallas Cowboys Stadium which will hopefully have another six-figure payout for a competition there. Keep checking here in the National Barbecue News for more details on this event.
The past few years have seen several tie-in barbecue events with NASCAR events, and Ronnie has gotten his share of attention with this crowd as well. In October 2009, he put on the event DegaQue at Talladega, AL, in conjunction with the Talladega Superspeedway and NASCAR event planned the same weekend. This event paid out $50,000 in total prize money and turned out to be a huge success. In 2010, Ronnie will put on a total of seven similar NASCAR events that will include Daytona, Michigan, and Phoenix, as well as Talladega, and in five years plans to have a total prize purse of $1,000,000 in all his events combined!
 |
Photo courtesy of Cates & Co.
|
If the past is any reflection on what can happen, then I think we better get prepared for the first million-dollar barbecue contest in the very near future! I know I am more than excited when I hear about upcoming plans like this, and you can bet we will be right there covering all the barbecue news that happens! For more info about this and other events on which Ronnie is working, visit www.smokeonthewaterbbq.com.
Back
to Top
|
