Entering my first competition! Woo Hoo!!

[smokey mo]

So I have decided to enter my first competition.  It is the county fair and qualifies the winner for the state fair.  The problem is I have no idea what this entails. I don't know what to expect. I am not sure what kind of chicken I am going to get, ie whole chicken, parts or halves.  I think that there are 2.5 to 3 hours to cook it. Not sure about brining to enhance the flavor or what.  WOW! I want this but feel like a clueless teenager!  Any help would be great.  This is for the Oregon State Fair and Fircrest Farms chicken cook off.  If anyone here in Orygun has ever been involved.  

Thanks for the help.

Smokey Mo

 

[ondagawood]

Go to some sites like the KCBS and search around there for tips and stuff about competition cooking. Plan, plan & prepare, get a checklist and then go and have fun !

I just did my first comp cook off and I got some info from here and other places on the 'net. I just don't have them here with me at work, when I get home, if I can find them I'll PM them to ya.

Good luck,

Scott

 

[wingman]

Good for you. What ever you do, make it fun no matter what. As long as you enjoy yourself regardless of outcome or things that may go wrong, you Will return with a positive attitude and one day place. Hell you may place your first run. Wouldn't't that be a hoot. It does seem folks competing like to show chicken thighs. Myron Mixon will tell you skin down in butter in a muffin pan. but if he catches you he will be on you like flies on stink.

 

[coffee_junkie]

Good luck, I too am entering my first comp, I have a team together and we are ready to go! Only thing is it is my job to do the brisket, and I have only smoked one so far. I am going to smoke a couple before the comp to get practiced up.

 

[mballi3011]

Yea go for it and like Rob (wingman) says make it fun for if you don't have fun it wouldn't be worth doing. Now go and get what they give you and cook it or smoke it really and do good too.

 

[smokey mo]

Thanks Everyone for the advise.  I will go back and reread the info from the State Fair.  Fun, Fun, Fun...thats what this is all about!  Life is too short to not have fun.  I think I am going to play with different cuts of chicken to have a plan for whatever come my way.  I like to have a challenge. 

I am looking at buying a new pit this weekend.  I have to go check it out but it could be the bee's knee's.  I fit is I might ask Jeff if I can advertise the forum on the side....hee hee hee.

I will keep ya'll posted when things happen.  Thanks for being family here. It sure makes a difference in what we all do.

Smokey Mo

 

[wingman]

Now go go lay down the TBS and win!

 

[iso]

You may want to see if one of the teams wants from free help. Work hard and learn from them. Then practice practice practice.

My first comp. it rained with thunder & lightning. Learned alot from watching other team that were not prepared for the weather.

Chicken thighs are fun to smoke. Getting the skin crispy is the toughest part. Watch one team use a blow torch on theirs.

 

[squirrel]

Woo Hoo! Good luck, by all means have fun! there's so much great info out there for ya. You've got to get your feet wet, hey, everybody had a "first" competition. I hope to be there someday myself! Congrats and good luck, take lots of pictures and lots of NOTES! Things will probably happen so fast that you'll forget things that might be important for the next competition, so keep a notebook handy.

 

[caveman]

Now go go lay down the TBS and win!

Exactly, what he said!!  Good luck to ya & make sure you have that BIG fun!!!

 

[sqwib]

So I have decided to enter my first competition.  It is the county fair and qualifies the winner for the state fair.  The problem is I have no idea what this entails. I don't know what to expect. I am not sure what kind of chicken I am going to get, ie whole chicken, parts or halves.  I think that there are 2.5 to 3 hours to cook it. Not sure about brining to enhance the flavor or what.  WOW! I want this but feel like a clueless teenager!  Any help would be great.  This is for the Oregon State Fair and Fircrest Farms chicken cook off.  If anyone here in Orygun has ever been involved.  

Thanks for the help.

Smokey Mo

Congrats and Goodluck!