Cook-Off has record turnout

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Competitor Mike Casteel checks the status of his beef at the Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Beef Cook-off Saturday at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park. Thirteen teams competed to serve up the best ribs, brisket and beans.

By KAITY HOLTMAN

Agriculture editor

In celebration of May as Beef Month, the Nodaway County Cattlemen hosted its third-annual Beef Cook-Off event Saturday at the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park equine camping area.

This year 13 teams competed in the event in three categories — ribs, brisket, and beans.

In the ribs category, Eric Couts placed first, Bill Driskell placed second, and Cody Blackford took third. Couts took home $300 and a trophy.

In brisket, Shana McVinua of Skinny Brisket took first, Paul Thompson of Grill Sergeant Barbeque placed second, and Bill Driskell took third. McVinua won $300 and a trophy.

In the beans category, Thompson won first, McVinua took second, and Brad Zimmerman placed third. Thompson earned a trophy and bragging rights.

Adding up competitors, judges, supporters and the public, more than 200 people attended the event.

The beef and beans were judged at 6 p.m. Judges included Joel Osborn, Andy Peterson, and Scott Nielsen, all members of the Northwest Missouri State University athletic department.

Of course, everyone else got fed, too, during a free dinner open to the public that offered up 150 pounds of smoked brisket — 15 pounds per team — baked beans, all-beef hot dogs, coleslaw, pasta salad, cornbread, and cookies.

The cook-off was timed to coincide with National Beef Month, and organizers said the event was intended as a celebration of beef as a healthy source of nutrition and a mainstay of the Missouri economy. County cattlemen across the state host beef promotions during May.