Biggest, Baddest, BBQ

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

Since the sound and smell of meat hitting a hot grill is enough to bring any man out of his cave, our local Children’s Miracle Network had a great idea to create Bakersfield’s Biggest, Baddest BBQ back in 2009. After all, there are two things everyone knows about Bakersfield. First, we love to give back. And second, we love a good barbecue. If you grill it, we will come.

But this isn’t just any barbecue event. No, this is the big leagues, folks. It’s a Kansas City Barbecue Society and California BBQ Association sanctioned event. And 2010’s BBQ was bigger (and badder) than ever.

“It’s only our second year and the number of entrants grew substantially,” explained Janelle Capra, director of fund-raising for the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation and our Children’s Miracle Network. In 2009, 34 skilled barbecue teams from across the region traveled to Bakersfield to participate. This year, 54 teams crammed onto the grounds of Stramler Park to have 60 sanctioned judges taste their goods.

“It’s not just a simple taste test,” explained 2010 BBQ Chair Mike George. “These judges attend classes and learn to evaluate the meat following certain criteria. There is a specific point system that has to be used.”

If a team wants to be in contention for Grand Champion or Reserve Champion (where the winner receives cash and KCBS points), they must prepare all four meats—pork, chicken, ribs, and brisket.

“You see a variety of grills out here,” George continued. “Everything from a small Weber to a $15,000 pellet smoker.” The range in expertise is wide, too. Rookies and seasoned professional grillers are going head to head (or rib to rib) for these titles.

“What’s great is that 16 of the teams are from Kern County,” George added. “But the rest are from the surrounding regions...Montana, Nevada, and Arizona. We’re hearing that this is the biggest event on the West Coast.”

Still, at the heart of the matter is the children; local children who are in need of quality medical care.

“We say May is for Miracle,” Capra said. “Every dollar we raise in stores and the net proceeds we receive from this event go to help develop the Children’s Medical Center here in Bakersfield.”

Children’s Medical Center is slated to include a neonatal intensive care unit, expanded pediatrics unit, and the only pediatric intensive care unit in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Capra estimates that since the partnership between Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network began in 1991, our community has raised roughly $3.5 million.

“There is a need for a Children’s Medical Center here,” she explained. “Too often children are being transported away from family and friends to Los Angeles or Fresno when they should be taken care of here in town.”

With the money raised from in-store fund-raisers, and events like the Biggest, Baddest BBQ, Capra is hoping that they’ll be able to purchase a state-of-the-science pediatric crib that can accommodate toddlers down to the tiniest preemies. And of course, both Capra and George are hopeful that in addition to funds raised this year, next year’s BBQ will help them draw ever closer to seeing the Children’s Medical Center open its doors.

With more community support, we can continue helping local youngsters served by the Children’s Miracle Network. And because there’s barbecue in the picture, there’s no reason not to get involved.

If you’d like more information about our Children’s Miracle Network, call (661) 327-4647 ext. 4640.

Article appeared in our 27-2 Issue - June 2010