“Smokin’ on the Rio Barbeque Cook-Off” was established in 2004 by a group of individuals to raise money in support of youth agricultural projects in the Rio Grande Valley. Since its inception, the not-for-profit organization raised almost $200,000.00 in cash sponsorships, event ticket sales, and concession. With these profits, the organization goes to the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show’s Sale of Champions and purchases youth projects. In just four years, the group has helped over 100 kids by spending more than $140,000. All proceeds were spent at the RGVLS Sale of Champions because of an agreement with RGVLS for free use of their facilities during the cook-off.
The cook-off has been proclaimed a “Texas State Championship” by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. With this proclamation, winners will automatically qualify for the “International Barbeque Cookers Association Cook-Off”, “The American Royal” in Kansas City, and will even be entered in the lottery for the “Jack Daniels Invitational”. This year’s event will open on February 22, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. with a kick-off party and dance featuring TBA at the RGVLS Show grounds in Mercedes, Texas. The gates will open on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. for the “Texas State Championship Cook-Off”. There will be a team-roping event along with the cook-off, food booths, children’s rides and games with live music throughout the day. Many of the cooking teams will be selling samples of their creations for a chance to be crowned as the “People’s Choice”, of the cook-off.
