Sam’s Club begins BBQ promo

The sweet smell of barbeque will be in the air of central Florida later this month when Sam’s Club kicks of its fifth annual National BBQ Tour with prizes totaling $500,000 and participation from 700 teams.

The first of 25 local qualifying events will be held in the Orlando suburb of Kississimmee on Feb. 21. After the local qualifiers, five regional events narrow the field further before the finalists compete for the national title on October 10 at Sam’s Club headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. The tournament series is judged by members of the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

"This tour shows the true American barbecue style of cooking that stretches all over the country – from coast to coast, border to border," said Michael McDearman, director of the barbeque series. The series is sponsored by Bush’s, Cargill, Clorox, ConAgra Foods, Heinz, the National Pork Board, New Zealand Lamb, Pepsi, Reser’s Fine Foods, Sweet Baby Rays and Tone’s.

To see the locations of upcoming events click here.