Smithfield continues to invest in competition barbecue by sponsoring events and pitmasters in 2016. The brand is helping fuel barbecue competition by announcing the Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program for 2017. The Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program is designed to provide monetary and event support to sanctioned barbecue competitions across the United States. Grants will be awarded to a variety of non-profit, community, and event organizers that host barbecue events, in addition to meeting a number of qualifications and falling within the guidelines of one of the sport’s major sanctioning bodies.
Qualified events that are selected for a Smithfield Grant will receive prize money that will enhance their event and will deepen the prize pool to pay out the top 20 percent of the field. Qualifying criteria for events include sufficient advertising, a guarantee of basic services for participating pitmasters, and that the event be family-friendly.
In 2016, Smithfield committed to an investment in the competition barbecue market through partnerships with winning pitmasters, the creation of the Smokin’ With Smithfield Committed Cooks program, which rewards teams who cook with Smithfield products, and became the first ever presenting sponsor of the American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City. Smithfield-sponsored pitmasters Tuffy Stone of Cool Smoke Barbeque and Darren Warth of Iowa’s Smokey D’s took home Grand Champion Titles at the Jack Daniels Invitational, the Sam’s Club Invitational, and the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open respectively in 2016.
The Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program applications are available starting January 18, 2017. To download an application and to learn more about qualifications for the grant program, the Committed Cooks Program, or where to buy Smithfield products, visit www.SmokinWithSmithfield.com.
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