Step up to the plate: $2000 grand prize up for grabs at Narrogin Flaming BBQ Festival

It’s been a big year for Barbie but the biggest barbie event of 2023 will take place in Narrogin as the Wheatbelt town hosts its inaugural Flaming BBQ Festival. Event organiser and meat-master Mark Walling is hoping that the festival will be a banger with $2000 up for grabs for the barbecue king or queen. “It’s taken a lot of planning and organising,” Mr Walling said. “If you’re thinking about coming to have a look throw your barbecue on the back of the ute and bring it in too.” With barbecuing knowing no borders, Mr Walling encouraged people from all cultural backgrounds to come along and show the community how they did their meat. “I actually got a message from someone in Tasmania the other day,” he said. “They’re travelling and they’ll be in the area, they asked if they needed to book and I said nah, just buy a ticket at the gate.” The event will be held on Thomas Hogg Oval from September 22-23 and feature a relaxed family atmosphere with stalls from wineries and distilleries and live music over both days. Mr Walling said that attendees wouldn’t need fancy barbecues to be in the running for the grand prize. “At most comps, a lot of people just use the old Weber,” he said. “One bloke I saw had four Webers going doing his meat, it really comes down to how you cook it.” Unlike wine tasters, meat sommeliers will feel, chew, consider and swallow the meat in order to judge it and professional judges from Pit Master University and Kansas City Barbecue will be in attendance. “There’s a few locals that want to judge,” Mr Walling said. “I can guarantee that I’m going to have dozens of people say they’re keen.” Key criteria of examination will be judges asking themselves if they would serve the offering to their spouse. Winners across all categories, pork, beef, lamb and chicken, will revive a plaque that they can hang up at home above their barbie to boast their prowess with the tongs. To anyone interested in participating in the event Mr Walling extends an invitation to be part of Narrogin meat history. “Don’t be frightened if it’s your first time, it’s our first time too,” he said. “Have a go, it’ll be bloody good fun.” Competitors have until September 15 to register and registration for the event can be made via www.trybooking.com/CJETJ. Anyone that misses the registration cut-off date can call Mr Walling on 0411 293 182.