14th Annual ND BBQ Championship: Saturday, October 4th, 2025.

Judges

HOTEL INFORMATION

Delta hotels by marriott

1635 42nd St SW Fargo, ND 58103 701-277-9000

The Delta is recommended for the best stay in Fargo with quality amenities and service. This hotel is just over a mile from the contest. It is located in the heart of Fargo, close to shopping, restaurants, and more.

Please click the link below to reserve with the discounted rate or call the hotel directly and book under the ND BBQ block of rooms. Rooms are on a limited basis. Please reserve by August 27th to guarantee this rate. Airport shuttle service available.

*Rooms must be booked by September 10th to receive this rate*

$189.00+ tax - Standard 2 Queen Suite

Book A Room at the Delta

country inn & suites

3316 13th Ave S Fargo, ND 58103 701-234-0565

This hotel is only a block away from the contest. If you want to have the convenience of checking on your smoker, or want to be close to the action, this is the place to be.

Limited number of rooms available. Please click the link below to reserve with the discounted rate or call the hotel directly and book under the ND BBQ block of rooms. Breakfast served with reservation.

*Rooms must be booked by September 12th to receive this rate*
$129.00 + tax - Standard King bed OR 2 Queen beds
$157.90 + tax - King Suite
$162.90 + tax - King Deluxe Suite
$197.90 + tax - Bunk Bed Suite

Book A Room at Country Inn & Suites

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Day of the event

Arrive at SCHEELS Home & Hardware by 10am Saturday October 4th. Check in will begin promptly at 10:00am, followed by a shot judges meeting.

Give yourself ample time to find parking, the tent, etc. The judges tent is located on the West side of our parking lot. It is a large white tent.

Contest Location

3202 13th Ave S Fargo, ND

Please note there are 3 SCHEELS locations in the Fargo/ Moorhead area. Make sure you are at the correct location.

What to WEAR?

DRESS IN LAYERS!

The weather in North Dakota can be very unpredictable. Please dress in layers, as you will be judging in a tent. We have had temperatures as low as 20 degrees in the morning and climb to 80 degrees by the awards ceremony.

We will provide heaters in the tent if necessary.

parking

Please park in the red designated JUDGES PARKING lot as marked on the map. It is only a block away from the contest location.

Official kcbs judging rules

The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) scores are meticulously tabulated on a scale from 1 to 9, each representing a distinct judgment.
The scoring system is as follows:

9: Excellent
8: Very Good
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Poor
2: Inedible (e.g., raw chicken)
1: Disqualification or Penalty (requires Rep approval)

This comprehensive scale allows judges to provide nuanced evaluations, ensuring a fair and detailed assessment of the culinary expertise demonstrated in each BBQ competition.

In KCBS competitions, scores are assigned to three distinct categories: Appearance, Taste, and Tenderness. These categories hold different weights in the overall scoring process.

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