The Montana Pitmaster Classic is a free community event with food proceeds that will benefit the Gallatin Valley YMCA. This event is a KCBS (KANSAS CITY BBQ SOCIETY) sanctioned competition happening at Kenyon Noble Lumber & Hardware of Bozeman. Professional and amateur contestants from the Northwest and Canada come to compete for the Montana State Championship of BBQ in the categories of chicken, pork ribs, pork and brisket. The overall highest scorer in all categories will become the Grand Master of the tournament and state champion, making them eligible for the Kansas City Royal (one of the biggest barbecue competitions in the world.) Last year’s Grand Champion Overall, Montana Outlaw BBQ, placed 2nd in chicken, 5th in ribs, 3rd in pork, and 3rd in brisket and are geared up to compete at the Montana Pitmaster Classic again this year. The Montana Pitmaster Classic is a 2-day, nonprofit event created to increase awareness of the competitive world of barbecue.

One of the big events surrounding the main competition is the Bozeman BBQ & Blues Night on Friday, Aug 23rd, where a variety of the competition teams will be serving specialty foods, and the blues of Andre Floyd will set the mood for a great family event. A large percentage of all proceeds from the Montana Pitmaster Classic will go directly towards supporting our community and the Gallatin Valley YMCA.

Join us at 1pm on Saturday the 24th to check out the biggest names in BBQ such as Traeger Grills, Weber Grills and Big Green Egg. Their professional grillmasters will be on hand to showcase their grills, reveal new product, give live demos, host educational classes, and teach new & innovative ways to produce great barbecue. After the competition, sample what the teams turned in and see what real competition barbecue tastes like. Stick around until 4pm to see who will be crowned the Montana Pitmaster champion!