The Best Dam Barbecue Challenge has humble beginnings as a 2005 local barbecue competition with just 11 competitors, but a mission to become the only place barbecue competitors and event guests would consider spending their Memorial Day Weekend…right here at beautiful Bicentennial Park in Boulder City, Nevada! Well, something must have gone right because the size of the event more than doubled in its second year and almost tripled in its third!
As the size and popularity of the event grew to over 20,000 attendees, so did the prize purse – which now stands at $10,000 in cash and even more in prizes donated by local businesses and our generous sponsors.
More importantly than cash, prizes or trophies however…at least, to our competitors…is the fact that the Best Dam Barbecue has been designated by the State of Nevada as a “state championship” barbecue event, making it an automatic qualifier into the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue – also known as “The Jack”. Professional Competition Teams from around the world compete throughout the year at state championships just for the opportunity to have their names entered in a lottery, the winners of which are permitted to compete at The Jack…and we’re proud to be one of the championships they enter in hopes of qualifying for The Jack!
The Best Dam Barbecue Challenge is produced and presented by the Rotary Club of Boulder City and services as the club’s major fundraiser for the work they do both in the local community and as part of the larger organization, Rotary International.
Proceeds from the Best Dam Barbecue go to support a wide variety of local community organizations in Boulder City, for example:
- Boulder City Emergency Aid – The local welfare office and food pantry that assists Boulder City residents in need of financial assistance for rent, utilities and groceries.
- Lend A Hand of Boulder City – The local organization dedicated to assisting seniors remain independent in their home by providing transportation, in-home assistance, companionship and/or equipment loans.
- Every 15 Minutes – A local program coordinated through joint cooperation of several emergency response agencies to re-enacts the aftermath of a fatal automobile collision to educate Boulder City High School sophomores and juniors about the potential consequences of a drinking and/or texting while driving.
- St. Jude’s Ranch for Children – The Boulder City-based campus committed to assisting abused, abandoned and neglected children and families.
For a complete list of the community organizations supported this year by the Rotary Club of Boulder City, please click here.
Worldwide, you’ll find more than 1.2 million Rotarians in over 34,000 local clubs – all with a believe that Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” is the first step to take in changing the world we live in for the better. Rotarians volunteer not only in their communities at home, but abroad to support education and job training, providing clean water, combating hunger, improving health and sanitation and eradicating polio.
For more information about Rotary International, please feel free to click here.
