TWENTY SIX years ago the KCBS competition came to town adding excitement and the smell of BBQ to our small town celebration.
State Center’s Annual Rose Festival features the longest lasting official KCBS BBQ competition in the state of IOWA!!
Quick recap of 2025 Rose Festival’s KCBS BBQ Competition – We had 25 teams this year. My KCBS Competition Grand Champion was Hot Daddy’s BBQ , Reserve Champion was Son of a Boar BBQ, and my 3rd place overall was DRY 2 DA BONE.
I also host a People’s Choice Rib contest with a limit of 10 teams. This year my winners were 1st Not Dat Bad BBQ, 2nd Place Big Racks BBQ and 3rd Yankee Twang Barbecue Co. Fun little fact, People’s Choice is open to anyone that wants to compete. In 2022 I added another category to this contest, 2025 Kid’s Choice was awarded to the 1st place Not Dat Bad BBQ.
Kid’s Q competition for 2025 was a blast! It’s great to see how Iowa Pork Producers supported the event by providing such thoughtful Welcome Bags. Ground pork for the younger participants (12 & Under) and boneless pork chops for the older group (13 & Up) is a nice touch, offering a variety of cooking opportunities for the kids.
Entering the competition: Visit the BBQ Entry page to learn more about and/or enter the competition online or download the PDF on link above. If you fill out the online form you do not need to mail PDF copy.
- Official KCBS sanctioned event (Judging on Saturday, June 20th, 2026)
- People’s Choice Ribs competition (Friday evening, June 19th, 2026)
- Kid’s Q (Friday evening, June 19th, 2026)
Certified KCBS Judges: Click here to direct you to the BBQ Judge entry page to complete an official judging entry form online or download the PDF on link above. If you fill out the online form you do not need to mail PDF copy.
Visitors to the Rose Festival are grateful every year to our BBQ entrants for providing the enticing aromas and delicious sampling of ribs throughout the weekend!
67th Annual Rose Festival 