The best in barbecue competes in Chilliwack

Prairie Smoke & Spice took top honours at the inaugural Barn Burner Barbecue Competition in Yarrow on Sunday.

Barbecue legend Rockin' Ronnie Shewchuk, at the grill at the Barn Burner Barbecue Competition in Yarrow on Sunday. Shewchuk, whose Butt Shredders barbecue team was the first Canadian team to win a Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned event in the U.S., was there to promote his latest book and help out the Johnston Meats booth. More than 20 teams took part in the sanctioned event, with Prairie Smoke & Spice named Grand Champion and Lake House BBQ claiming reserve.

Barbecue legend Rockin' Ronnie Shewchuk, at the grill at the Barn Burner Barbecue Competition in Yarrow on Sunday. Shewchuk, whose Butt Shredders barbecue team was the first Canadian team to win a Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned event in the U.S., was there to promote his latest book and help out the Johnston Meats booth. More than 20 teams took part in the sanctioned event, with Prairie Smoke & Spice named Grand Champion and Lake House BBQ claiming reserve.

Prairie Smoke & Spice took top honours at the inaugural Barn Burner Barbecue Competition in Yarrow on Sunday.

The Regina team finished first overall at the Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned event, with Lake House BBQ finishing second to claim reserve.

More than 20 teams from across Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest took part in the competition. They sought barbecue supremacy (and a share of the $5,000 cash prize) in the traditional categories of chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork and brisket.

The “black box” competition, which is not marked by sanctioned judges, was won by Smokey’s BBQ.

Hundreds of barbecue fans packed into Yarrow for the event, which took place outside the Farm Store at Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry.

Admission was by donation, earning nearly $5,000 for Ruth and Naomi’s Mission in Chilliwack.

Not only was there a chance to sample free barbecue from some of the best in the businesses, there was music, a climbing wall and information on everything barbecue.

For more on the winners, go to www.facebook.com/barnburnerbbq

Chilliwack Progress