This mouth watering competition was first held in 1980 wherein contestants had to grill 10 lbs. of pork, lamb or beef and judges score them on a scale of 10 to 1. This year, the American Royal Barbecue will be celebrating their 32nd year on the 29th of September until October 2, 2011 at the American Royal Complex at Kansas City, Missouri. The barbecue contest and food fair serves as the culminating event of the American Royal rodeo and livestock/horse show. Known as the biggest barbecue cook-off in the whole world, it is participated by 500 teams contending in 4 categories. Aside from the cook-off, a barbecue food expo is also part of the event. Culinary teams plus hungry onlookers cover up to more than 20 acres of the event?s venue. But then again, people don?t come here to just watch the contestants cook, but to sample some of the best BBQ as well.