BBQ Competition

CALLING ALL PITMASTERS! 

Do you have what it takes to be crowned the No Man's Land BBQ Master? 

The 46th Annual Sabine Freestate Festival BBQ Competition is heating up in Florien, Louisiana, and this year we're proud to announce that we are now a BCA Sanctioned Event!

Competition Categories:
• Brisket
• Pork Spare Ribs
• Chicken

Compete for your share of $3,000 in Cash Prizes!

Whether you're a seasoned competition team or ready to prove your backyard BBQ skills, this is your chance to fire up the smoker and show us what you've got.

• Florien, LA
• 46th Annual Sabine Freestate Festival
• BCA Sanctioned Competition
• $3,000 Prize Purse

Gather your team, sharpen your recipes, and get ready for an unforgettable weekend of great food, friendly competition, and festival fun!

Who will earn the title of No Man's Land BBQ Master?

Register today and bring the heat! 

General Rules and Regulations:

All BCA Rules and Regulations will be followed for this competition. You can find a copy of the rules attached and highlighted below or visit BCABBQ.ORG

1. Head Cooks or (1) designated representative per team will attend a MANDATORY BBQ Cooks meeting at 5:30pm Friday November 6, 2026 inside the Depot prior to the beginning of the competition, where they will receive all plates, name badges and complete Check-In.  
2. All entries must be turned in to the designated area ( table inside the Depot Doors) by 5:00pm and contestants will remain on the festival grounds until awards are announced at 6:30pm. Doors to judging area will be locked by 5:45pm
3. 1 cooking team per pit suggested.
4. Team members must wear name tags at all times in the cooking area. Name tags can either have the members registered name or the team name itself to be able to identify.
5. Entry teams may have as many team members as they want. However, for the purpose of publicity or for awards presentation, only (2) two team members, not including the head cook, will be considered “official” team members.
6. Contestants are required to bring all ingredients and equipment needed including but not limited to: pit, tables, coolers, serving utensils etc:
7. Fires are not to be built on the ground. Holes or firepits will not be allowed except when approved by the contest committee. Fires may be of wood, pellets, charcoal. Electric or gas grills/pits ARE NOT permitted.
8. The Sabine Freestate Festival will provide covered plates for entries prior to judging turn in. 
9. Sabine Freestate Festival Committee Members may randomly walk through the cooking area and inspect at any time.
10. The Sabine Freestate Festival and the Village of Florien are not responsible for any damaged or stolen property during the event.
11. The Sabine Freestate Festival and the Village of Florien are not responsible for injuries incurred on site during the event. 
12. Fires may be lit prior to cooking times. 
13. Teams, Participants and Contestants in the Backyard Cook-Off are responsible for the CLEAN UP of their area immediately following the contest. Each team is responsible for keeping the contest area clean and policed before leaving event (no ashes, hot or cold, shall not be left on site).
14. EQUIPMENT SET-UP / STAGING: Up to two (2) vehicles are permitted in the contest area for set up purposes only on Friday afternoon and before the competition begins on Saturday morning. After set up, all vehicles, driven, towed and any others must be moved to festival parking area. Enclosed Trailers must be removed from cooking site, unless your cooker is permanently attached.
15. Each cooking team will be required to have a fire extinguisher (A,B,C) in full view at all times.
16. Cleanliness of all team members, cookers and the cooking area is mandatory. Proper hand washing and the use of disposable food safe gloves shall be used at all times when handling food products, raw or cooked. Gloves should be changed often, especially when working with different products and when handling ready to eat foods after handling raw foods. All applicable local health department rules and regulations must be complied with. The health department inspector is regarded as a member of the contest committee.
17. All applicable local fire department rules and regulations must be complied with. The fire department inspector/fire marshal is regarded as a member of the contest committee.
18. Contestants are NOT allowed to sell food, drinks, or other items from their team space.
19. Clothing, including, but not limited to, shirts and shoes must be worn in all food preparation areas, while handling any food.
20. No pets or small animals are allowed in the cooking area.
    1. Certified Service Animals will be allowed in contest areas.
21. Sabine Freestate Festival Committee personnel reserve the right to amend these rules and regulations as situations warrant. Intent to circumvent these rules or amendments will not be tolerated.
22. The excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages will be grounds for disqualification. Under NO circumstances are alcoholic beverages to be sold or offered in any form to the general public.
23. Competing cooks are not allowed to judge and judges are not allowed to cook. Judges must not be associated with any cooking team or team member in any way that would cast suspicion upon the integrity of the judging process. These rules are intended to be fair and equitable to each and every contestant.
24. Generators are allowed as there is no electricity available for cook-off spaces
25. All entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
26. Any team members found not in compliance with the rules and regulations are subject to immediate disqualification by the Sabine Freestate Festival Committee.
27. All decisions of the judges will be final.

CAUSES FOR DISQUALIFICATION

• Failure to comply with the rules and regulations established in this document.

• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages by a team, its members and/or guests.   Under no circumstances are alcoholic beverages to be distributed to the public by contestants and/or guests.

• Use of controlled substances by a team, its members, and/or guests.

• Foul, abusive, or unacceptable language by a team, its members, and/or guests.

• Fighting and/or disorderly conduct.

• Health Department has the authority to remove any contestant.

Minimum of 5 places will be paid out. Total Prize money will vary on amount of competiting teams. Payout is $3,000 +/- $100/team based on 17 teams. Must enter all 3 catergories to be eligible for Grand Champion.