Bean Cooker Application

Welcome to the 45th Annual Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races!

Do you have a secret family recipe for pinto beans? The kind that’s been perfected with a little love, a lot of patience, and maybe just a pinch of mystery? If so, this is your moment. Each year, thousands of folks gather to watch pot after pot of pinto beans slowly simmer in giant cast-iron kettles — and every one of them has its own story, its own flavor, and its own proud cook behind it.

It’s not just about the beans (though they truly are the star of the show). It’s about the smiles, the friendly competition, and the way the whole town fills with the comforting aroma of slow-cooked goodness. Whether you’re stirring the pot or just stopping by for a taste, you’ll feel like part of the family.

So bring your best recipe, your favorite spoon, and your bean-cooking pride. Who knows — your pot of pinto beans might just be the one everyone’s talking about this side of the Ozarks. 

Please take a moment to review the Terms & Conditions, as a few new items have been added.

Contest Rules

Provided Items:
You will be provided with gloves, a roll of paper towels, foil, compostable spoons, bowls, and pins. Beans, water, stir paddles, and kettles will also be furnished for each team. However, teams are responsible for bringing their own seasonings, flavorings, and spices to make their beans uniquely their own.
Bean Quantity:
Contestants must cook the amount of beans assigned to their kettle. No beans may be removed without approval from the Bean Committee.
Cooking Area/Check-In
The cooking area will open to participants at 6:30 AM. When you check in, you’ll receive gloves, a roll of paper towels, foil, spoons for tasting, compostable spoons, bowls, and pins. Your beans, water, and kettles will also be ready for you at that time. The Bean Fest Committee will begin lighting the fires at approximately 7:00 AM.
Judging:

Judging will begin at approximately 11:00 AM. Our wonderful volunteers will come by to collect a bowl of your best beans for the judging panel. Awards will be announced once all judging is complete, along with the decoration and other contest awards.
Entry Fee and Prizes:
The entry fee for each kettle is $50.00. Prize money will be awarded as follows:

1st Place: $150
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $75
Best of Show (Cooking Area): $50
Best Costumes: $50
Clean-Up:
Each contestant is responsible for cleaning the area around their assigned bean pot at the end of the day’s activities. This includes removing all stir paddles and ladles from the pots. Designated drop-off areas will be provided for paddles and ladles.
Cooking Area Access:

Only three (3) cooks are allowed in the roped-off “cooking” area at any given time. Participants will be issued badges (pins-given at check-in) granting them access to this area. No other family members, friends, relatives, long-lost pals, or enemies are allowed in the area. For safety reasons, children under the age of 12 are not permitted. This rule is in place to keep the area safe and spill-free. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the Bean Cooking competition. The Bean Committee has the final say on this matter.
Sanitary Practices:
For sanitary reasons, cooks must use disposable spoons when tasting the beans during cooking. Additionally, caution should be exercised when smoking near the bean pots, as cigarette ashes could fall into the beans. (While smoking near the beans may not be unsanitary, it certainly appears unappetizing!) We highly discourage smoking in the cooking area. 
Decorations:
Contestants may decorate their cooking area as they wish, provided the decorations are not offensive and do not pose a fire hazard by being too close to the burners. Prizes will be awarded for the best-decorated area. Decorations must not interfere with safe movement within the area or extend beyond the assigned cooking space.
Conduct:
This event is intended to be fun and entertaining. Committee members for the Bean Fest are volunteers who participate for their enjoyment and have no affiliations with any participants; therefore, they treat everyone equally and with respect. In return, they should be treated with the same respect. Any abusive behavior by contestants during registration or cooking will not be tolerated. Any violators will be disqualified from the competition.