Judging results are final. Results furnished to contestants upon request. Personalized, signed and embossed Official Certificates will be sent to the top scores in each category and ribbons will be given to the top five of each category. Entry fees and product donations to the Barbecue Store benefit the American Royal and other non-profit organizations. Each judge evaluates up to 12 Sauces, Rubs or Bastes.
Judges complete a ballot for each product tested.
Ballots allow for ranking of product on a scale of 1-9, based on the product's appearance, texture, taste alone and taste on the meat. All judges are also asked to evaluate packaging entries. Rubs and Bastes are assigned a number and placed in a plastic bag or container to assure anonymity. Each rub or Baste is applied to a slab of uncooked pork ribs and cooked by an experienced pitmaster in the same pit at the same time to assure consistency of preparation. Judges evaluate the product by itself and on a rib cooked with the product.