Sunbelt Ag Expo Que Fest

1. Any organized chapter of state Young Farmers Associations may enter one team. Limit one entry per chapter.

2. Cookoff Prizes 1st prize $1200 (plus trophy); 2nd prize $700; 3rd prize $600; 4th prize $300; 5th prize $250; 6th prize $200; (payable to chapter) Checks will be mailed to Chapter the week following the Expo.

3. Chapters placing 7th and higher will receive $100.

4. Stripling’s General Store and Sunbelt Expo will provide gratis to each team two 5 to 6 lb. boneless pork Boston butts. The pieces will be as uniform as possible. Each team is responsible for picking up their meat on site in the cooking area. Teams are not required to use the meat from Stripling’s General Store; they may provide their own 5 to 6-lb. boneless pork Boston butts. After the judging, the remaining cooked meat from each team will be placed on the evening food line for consumption during the Young Farmer Event meal. Only one 5 to 6-lb. Boston butt is required from each team for judging.

5. Each chapter will supply all of its cooking ingredients (except meat), cooking devices, utensils, preparation tables, etc. Each team will be provided the meat, a cooking area, water and necessary sanitary facilities. Each contestant must adhere to all electrical, fire, city, county, state, federal and other applicable codes. Teams are encouraged to supply their own fire extinguishers and tents for coverage in case of inclement weather.

6. Each contestant may have 9 assistants. Teams will be allocated a maximum of 10 badges and 2 parking passes. These will be mailed via USPS prior to the show.

7. Each chapter must comply with applicable rules and regulations of the Colquitt County Health Department.

8. Each chapter is asked to accept responsibility of seeing that its contest area is kept clean and that the area is cleaned following the contest.

9. Contestant cooking may begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th. All teams must be in place by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15th. On application, please specify team’s specific time and date of arrival to cook. Cooking is held in the exhibit grounds, and you may enter on Tuesday using Gate 3 between 5:30-6:30pm or Gate 2 after 6:30pm. All areas in which meat is cooking must be attended by at least one team member at all times. Sunbelt Exposition and sponsors are not responsible for tents, cookers or other equipment left unattended at any time.

10. To ensure fair competition, when meat leaves cooking area to go to Blind Judging Area, there may not be any garnishes, foil tags, etc. applied to meat. Meat may be injected, rubbed with a dry rub, marinated, or whatever the team thinks will make the meat taste better.

11. Blind boxes will be turned in between 1:20-1:30pm at the GYFA Hospitality table. The blind boxes will be delivered to the IBC next to the Expo HQ to be judged at 1:45pm.

12. The judging for the Terrell Weeks Spirit of Q’Fest award will begin at 1pm on Wednesday, October 15th and should conclude by 1:15pm. This will be sight judging of the decorations of the booth and no taste testing will be done.

13. Chapters may not sell food to the public.

14. Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition and sponsors reserve the right to make additional regulations and rules as the situation dictates.

15. Decisions of the judges are final.

16. Deadline to enter the Sunbelt Ag Expo Young Farmer Pork Cookoff is Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

17. Each chapter will receive their pre-assigned cook locations 2-5 days prior to the show. Cook team badges and two parking permits will be mailed to chapters prior to the show. Only two vehicles per team is allowed in the cooking area. No exceptions.

18. Tables, chairs and tents are allowed and to be provided by teams.