Better World Barbeque

Tourism is a big part of our economy and without people coming it hits our community hard. So with me just competing in a BBQ competition I started organizing a local BBQ event. We called this event 'OUT OF THE ASHES' BBQ Contest. The first year was very successful. We had a $10,000 prize purse and about 20 competing teams from all over Arizona and other states. This proved to be very beneficial for the community and the charity we held the competition for. This was a four meat event, just like you see on TV. The competitors loved the area and have come back yearly.

In 2015 we changed strategy and instead of a four meat competition, we went to a rib burn. We did this so it would be more family oriented and fun for the teams. This started out slow going from five teams the first year to 21 teams in 2018, to 47 teams in 2021. We make this a fun competition in which we supply the ribs to all the teams competing and also keep the entry fee very low. We also have numerous raffle items that we raffle off to the public.

This is a three day event starting on Thursday with the Tri Tip/Pulled Pork dinner that we offer for sale to the public. On Friday we hold a Dessert and Appetizer Contest in which the public can enter and also taste for a small donation. Then on Saturday we hold several contests to include the Rib Burn, the Bacon Category, Kids Q, and the Fireball Contest.

We also judge the competitor's site and have prizes for the best-decorated area. After the contest, we hold the awards ceremony and draw the winners of the raffle prizes. After everything calms down we pass the hat to anyone who wants to have dinner with us and order pizza, wings, and bread sticks to be delivered and we have a big pizza party.

The next day, Sunday, we all get together and ride our ATVs/UTVs to Alpine on forest roads and have lunch at the Foxfire Restaurant. We hold another raffle there and all the proceeds go the waitresses as their tip. Needless to say they are very happy to have us. After lunch we then get together at the event site and make dinner for everyone that has stayed. This is a time that we visit and catch up on what everyone has been up to.

We are seeing a trend in which teams are coming up early and staying later in order to enjoy our beautiful area. This gives them a chance to explore and experience all that our area has to offer.

In 2021 we applied for our own non profit 503c3 status, and in late 2022 we became an official non profit (501 (c)3. We did this to be able to write grants and have more control over the proceeds in order to help more charities. Since the change the first year so far we have given out $4,400 to local charities and families that have needed assistance. In 2022, we have given out $9,000.