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Teams to Battle for Blade this weekend

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By Kathy Thomson

There is still time for teams to register and compete for awards including “The Blade of Fort Griffin” and prize money in several categories at the Fort Griffin BBQ Battle for the Blade and World Championship Dove Cook-Off this weekend.

The fifth annual cook-off will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28 at Fort Griffin State Historical Site. The set-up area is on the hill where the flagpole is located, accessible by turning in on the Visitors Center (west) side of  the park.

Entry fees for the event are $200 per team for the three meats (brisket, pork spare ribs, and chicken), and $30 per bonus event (steak and dove). Teams can include up to four members.

Entry forms for the cook-off are available by contacting Ramby Anderson at King & Robertson Insurance Agency in Albany or can be downloaded from the event’s website. However, instead of registering online this year, teams are required to turn in the registration fees and a paper copy of their entry form to Anderson ahead of time or register at the event by paying the entry fees in cash.

Gate Fees

All-day $10 passes will be available for the general public for those age 12 and over. Under 12 will be admitted at no charge. Coolers will be allowed for no charge, but alcohol is not permitted.

The International Bar-B-Que Cookers Association sanctioned event helps raise funds for the historic calvary fort. 

“All money raised at the gate will go directly to Fort Griffin State Historic Site’s budget to expedite additions and renovations to their amazing campgrounds,” said barbecue representative Justin Winters. “That could include things such as additional campsites, non-campsite river access, lodging, and improvements and/or expansion to current walking trails. It can also include anything else that the fort’s management team thinks could make for an even better overall experience for all future visitors to the campgrounds.”

Judges’ Sign-up

Volunteer judging will once again be used to select the cook-off winners, and those who sign up to judge before 5:00 p.m. today will not be charged a gate fee. 

“Zach Maberry has the sign-up sheet at First National Bank,” said Winters. “Those on the sign-up sheet will get a judging wrist band, which gets them into the event for free. If you want to be a judge and secure a free entry into the event by doing so, you must be on the judging sign-up sheet by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday!”

For more information about judging the event, call Maberry at 325-762-2221.

“You do not have to be from Albany to judge,” said Maberry. “All are welcome.”

Friday’s Schedule

Teams can start setting up tomorrow, Sept. 27, anytime after 10:00 a.m. Site are available on a first come first serve basis.

“Cooks should plan on a narrower and longer spot this year for their setup,” said Winters. “The spots will be approximately 15 feet wide and up to 70 feet long. Only one vehicle per team will be allowed in the spot.”

The cooks meeting and tray pickup will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, a little earlier than originally scheduled, so participants will have enough time to make it to local football games, including Albany’s Homecoming match up against Peaster.

For information about campsite availability or reservations, contact Fort Griffin at 325-762-3592.

Saturday’s Schedule

Fort Griffin opens daily at 8:00 a.m. 

Activities on Saturday will include a guided fort tour and a star gazing party organized by staff at the fort, as well as special activities for the cook-off including live music, barbecue judging, helicopter tours, and a kids’ bounce house obstacle course.

“We are really hoping to have a lot of local support for this year’s event, so even if they aren’t entering a team, we still encourage all of Albany to come out to the fort on Saturday,” said Winters. “Bring the family and enjoy the day learning more about our history, judging barbecue, and listening to some live music. And although the obstacle course bounce house is for kids, it does say ‘up to 45 years old,’ so who knows who we will see having races in it this weekend!”

The guided fort tour takes place from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. For those with limited mobility for the guided walking tour, there are electric golf carts available to be checked out at no additional cost. 

Live music is planned to start at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. 

Among those scheduled to perform are Kyle Fambro, the Highway Sisters, the Colton Rice Band, and Justin Biltonen of 3Doors Down.

Radio station 95.9 FM The Ranch out of Fort Worth will be broadcasting live from Fort Griffin on Saturday afternoon. The station broadcasts on 95.9 FM and can be found online at 959theranch.com.

Albany based S2 Helicopter Services will be offering flights of around 10 minutes duration over just the fort area, or a slightly longer tour that will also include flying over part of the Clear Fork of the Brazos.

Jacey Shack’s helicopter can hold the pilot and three passengers. Ticket prices for the tours had not been finalized as of press time.

Judging of the cook-off will begin with the steak turn-in at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Chicken turn-in is set for 12:00 noon, pork spareribs at 1:30 p.m., brisket at 3:00 p.m., and dove at 4:30 p.m.

The awards will be presented about 5:30 p.m.

“We have $15,500 guaranteed in the three main meats, and another $3,000 in the bonus categories,” said Winters. 

The top team will be awarded the Blade of Fort Griffin, a three-foot long trophy knife hand-forged by Albany’s Mike Whitmore.

The headlining artist’s performance will follow the awards ceremony.

Stars and Skies of Texas Star Party takes place in the baseball field at the campgrounds from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.

“We want to encourage local teams to sign up for the cook-off,” said Winters. “We also encourage locals to invite everyone they know to come and enjoy a day filled with fun, food, history, and the very popular and incredible Fort Griffin star gazing party that night.”

He added that the group is continuing its efforts to deepen future generations’ appreciation of this area’s past and keep the roots alive and strong. 

“It is going to be a great time, and we hope to see everyone out there,” he said.

Those with questions can contact Winters at 325-668-8241.