2026 Founders Day Cookoff Application

Granbury Founder’s Day Jubilee Celebration

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 13-15, 2026

Load in time Friday: 10 am – 2 pm  

Bean, Rib & Brisket Cook-Off Application  

2026 FOUNDER’S DAY JUBILEE COOK-OFF RULES & REGULATIONS

A cook-off official must inspect all beans, ribs and brisket prior to cooking at 7 am Saturday.

Meat MUST be raw/uncooked at time of inspection.

Ribs must be pork spare ribs. 

The meats may be marinated.

All Sunday cooks are welcome to stay overnight in Langdon Center Park.

All cookers MUST have a bean submission.

Cooking may be done on charcoal cookers, smokers, Coleman stoves, etc.

Heat sources must be contained at all times.

There is NO WATER available on site.

Cookers are responsible for properly removing and disposing of all trash and ashes.  DO NOT leave trash next to dumpsters.  DO NOT dump ashes anywhere on or near the Langdon grounds.

All categories will be judged on APPEARANCE, TENDERNESS/TEXTURE, and TASTE.

Each judge will score the sample from 5 (best) to 1 (worst) points for each category.

Total points per entry will determine 1st Place, 2nd Place and Honorable Mention in each food category.

Each contestant will receive a container with a ticket taped inside. A matching ticket will be taped to the outside of the container in a manilla envelope.

Do not remove this envelope, this is your entry ticket. The matching ticket INSIDE your container is for you to keep. DO NOT LOSE THIS MATCHING TICKET. If your matching ticket is lost, your entry will be disqualified.

Every effort will be made to avoid judges from knowing whose entry they are judging.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING SAMPLES & TURN-IN TIMES 

1.  ALL samples MUST be turned in at times noted below to the HGMA Judges Booth. If your entry is not turned in by the required time, you will not be judged.

2.  BEANS: turn in at 12:45 Saturday. Fill the cup to ¾ full.

3.  RIBS: turn in 8 RIBS in provided container at 2 pm Saturday.

No embellishments in container with ribs! (Sauce is not considered an embellishment).

4.  BRISKET: turn in 8 SLICES in provided container at 1 pm Sunday.

No embellishments in container with brisket! (Sauce is not considered an embellishment).

5.  PEOPLES’ CHOICE TICKETS: cookers will be required to turn in their tickets Saturday by 5pm for preliminary counting and on Sunday by 130pm to finalize counts. 

6.  Awards Ceremony will be at 3 pm Sunday at the Langdon Center Stage. Bring your matching ticket!

Prizes for each category:

First Place - $300

Second Place - $150 

Honorable Mention

People's Choice Award for Best Beans

RELEASE: THE PARTICIPANT DOES RELEASE THE CITY OF GRANBURY, HOOD COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS, THE  HISTORIC GRANBURY MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, AND INDIVIDUALS CONNECTED WITH THE SAID EVENT FROM ANY  AND ALL LIABILITIES ARISING FROM ANY TRANSACTIONS OR OCCURRENCES AT SAID EVENT AND AGREE TO HOLD  SUCH PARTIES FOREVER HARMLESS.