Certified Judges Schools
By JOE
O'CONNELL, cbbqa past
President
Updated April 21, 2002
The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Judge Certification Program and the
Memphis in May (MiM) Certification Program are designed to train barbeque judges
in basic objective standards for judging barbeque meat in sanctioned cooking
contest.
Open to anyone who likes barbeque and is serious about excellence in judging
barbeque.
All candidate judges must participate in a formal course of instruction to
familiarize themselves with either KCBS or MiM judging standards and barbeque
basics
After the successful completion of a course, KCBS candidates
must sign the KCBS Judges Code and take the official KCBS judges oath. The
KCBS will forward to each successful candidate an official certificate
which will be numbered. The number is designated to a judge in
perpetuity and may not be transferred.
KCBS can offer the program at low cost because their members volunteer time and
other resources. The fee is usually $30.00 for KCBS members and $50.00 for
non-members. The fee covers costs of materials, handling, and a small
portion of the market value of volunteer time required to maintain the program.
Net income, after costs are deducted, becomes part of the KCBS operating budget.
Judging seminars are offered many times each year. The KCBS class is a
four to five hour session and the MiM is a eight hour session.
- Interested persons may apply at any time by filling out the application
and submitting it with a check for the certification fee. Applicants
who are not KCBS members may enclose an application for membership and a
check for membership due in order to qualify for the lower fees available
to members. The certification fee and dues may be combined in one
check. The $50.00 non-member fee will entitle you to one year's
membership in KCBS.
- Upon receipt of the application and fees, a KCBS Representative will
contact you concerning enrollment in a class. Materials to be
distributed in the certification class include:
- A KCBS Code of Conduct to be signed and dated by the applicant and a
witness: and
- A current Official KCBS Rules Book: and
- A list of recommended readings, videos and other resources.
You will receive a signed, personalized KCBS Barbeque Judge Certificate and KCBS
Certified Judge name badge. A certified Judges Directory will be published
each March, for the use of KCBS sanctioned contest officials. They
are encouraged, but not required, to recruit KCBS certified judges.
Additionally, when you judge a contest you will be able to sample some of the
finest barbeque you have ever eaten. You will get to meet a great group of
people who are all interested in the same thing that you are, finding the best
barbeque available.
A certified judge who judges 30 KCBS-Sanctioned contests, or who judges
KCBS-Sanctioned contests over five consecutive years will be eligible to become
a Certified Master Judge.
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