CLEVELAND, Ga., Aug. 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eleven-year-old Mackenzie McCarty of Warminster, Pa., returns to BabyLand General® Hospital in the North Georgia Mountains, to compete in the Kids Q at the Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown and Fall Leaf Festival, a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Sanctioned Event.
At the age of nine, the competitive student and first-time BabyLand visitor, wanted to win one of the Kids Q Prizes, which was a BabyLand Exclusive Cabbage Patch Kid in a chef's hat and apron. Her dad, Ryan has been the "guinea pig" for the different barbeque recipes for two years. What started as a "stop" at BabyLand for the McCarty family has turned into an annual four-day trip to Cleveland, Ga. This year, mom, Brenda, signed up to be an arts and craft vendor.
Brenda wants her own parents to come to the BBQ Competition at BabyLand, because it was her Mom, Karen, who made dad, Harry Gledhill, stand in line in 1983 for her first Cabbage Patch Kid, Adorie Elka. Cabbage Patch Kids became a part of this family's history. Brenda was thrilled to discover there was a BabyLand General Hospital, home of the home of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Now, the Hillbilly Hog Barbecue has become an annual visit, they are hoping to come to other events and bring their friends.
The young, second-generation, Cabbage Patch Kid mom, Mackenzie, already busy with horseback riding, archery and taxidermy, now adds barbeque competitor to her list of acquired skills.
Trained in culinary arts and a KCBS Backyard BBQ competitor, Heather Sinyard, Event Organizer, is dedicated to the significance of getting young people involved in this competition. "At this stage it is a family commitment. Barbeque is more than just putting chicken or pork on a grill. Just like the adults, the young people have to consider barbecue flavors, charcoal heat, timing and presentation. From an educational standpoint it is a class in chemistry, business time management, culinary and artistic food styling. Just like the Guidelines for KCBS competitions, Kids Q is just fun!"
The Kid's Q cooking competition is sponsored again this year by BabyLand General® Hospital. Each child competing will be provided with a grill from the Southern BBQ Challenge, prep area, and the meat they have to barbeque for judging. This year, the competition will be for the best pork chop. The kids are encouraged to use their creativity in their cooking method, seasoning and presentation for judging. All contestants will bring their own cooking utensils, cooking supplies and seasonings.
There are two age levels to compete in: the Mini Pit Masters, ages 6-10, and Junior Pit Masters, ages 11-15. Each child is required to have an adult supervise their activities during the contest and may assist with lighting fires, handling knives, etc., but cannot help with the actual food preparation or cooking. Each age level only has 12 spots available and they are already starting to fill up. Top cooks in each category will receive a $50 cash prize and an Exclusive Cabbage Patch Kid® from BabyLand General® Hospital. Second place in each category will also take home a $25 cash prize. All participants will receive a commemorative Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown souvenir.
This Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Sanctioned competition brings Professional, Backyard and young people from 6 to 15 from all over the Southeast to compete in different categories with prizes totaling $11,000 to the competition in Cleveland, Ga. For the professional and backyard categories, 65 highly qualified KCBS judges come in from many different states, including some from as far away as Indiana and Kentucky. They award points based on appearance, taste and texture.
This competition at BabyLand is also part of the Southern BBQ Challenge (SBBQC), which means the possibility of winning an additional prize purse at the end of the year. This is an important event to those shooting for the Challenge Cup at the end of the year because the Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown is a member contest in the SBBQC so all cook teams earn double points for competing in Cleveland.
The Throwdown will feature a professional KCBS competition including several teams featured on popular BBQ shows, a "King of the Grill". In addition to the barbeque competition there is will be a People Choice Tasting tent, food vendors, rib eating contest, arts & crafts, corn box and more fun for the kids at BabyLand General® Hospital and in the Piglet Playland.
Parents or kids interested in the Kid's Q can get more information, including the official rules and application by visiting the Throwdown website at hillbillyhogbbq.com and clicking on "Participant Forms & Info" tab or they can contact Heather Sinyard at 706-809-0139 or heather@hillbillyhogbbq.com . BabyLand General Hospital/Cabbage Patch Kids contact Margaret.mclean@cabbagepatchkids.com at 706-865-2171, Ext. 241.
About Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc./dba BabyLand General Hospital, Home of the Cabbage Patch Kids.
Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. (OAA) owner of the Cabbage Patch Kids brand, was founded in 1978 by Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts. It is a privately held corporation located in Cleveland, Georgia. Headquarters to the world famous Cabbage Patch Kids brand, the new BabyLand General® Hospital, a 70,000 sq. ft., Southern Style home is located in a rural, mountain community north of Atlanta. Daily welcoming the family of 128 million 'Kids worldwide, BabyLand General also houses the Official Online Adoption Center. Investing in the future of the artist's hometown and its people, OAA also manages a wide range of other projects, while continuing to deliver for over 35 years, the hand-stitched, one-of-a-kind, soft-sculpture art, once again called Little People® from the Cabbage Patch. www.cabbagepatchkids.com
*@cpkusa * Cabbage Patch Kids Fan Page.
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Margaret Hata McLean 706-865-2171, Ext. 241 Heather Sinyard 706-809-0139
