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The Hill Country Rally for Kids held its 17th annual BBQ cookoff on Saturday, July 27, at Camp Ben McCullough in Driftwood. The event featured a juried competition with volunteer judges and blind tasting, ensuring impartiality as judges did not know whose BBQ meats they were sampling.
Forty-one teams competed. Bo Daniel and his Totally Bodacious BBQ team took first place overall, followed by Malcom Kitchen with All Metal Concepts in second, and Ron McLaurin with BBQ Bull Dawgs in third. Prizes were also awarded in individual categories. For a full list of winners, visit IBCABBQ.org.
Ron White, a dentist in Dripping Springs and a Hill Country Rally board member, along with IBCA judge Cindy Niles, headed the competition.
The Hill Country Rally for Kids is a charity that raises money for children’s organizations in the Texas Hill Country region. The BBQ cookoff is one of its annual events. The organization has raised over a million dollars for local charities, benefiting children in the area. Recipients include Amber's Angels, RED Arena, San Marcos Children's Center, Dripping Springs Ag Boosters, Burke Center for Youth, Tiger Totes, Schools Out Foods In, Marshall's Memorial Fund, BIG Love, Dripping Springs Independent School District's Project Graduation, Boy Scouts of America, and Helping Hands.
Last year, the charity donated more than $200,000 to these organizations, and their goal is to raise even more in 2024.
Christina Husch, the executive director for the Hill Country Rally for Kids, attended the BBQ cookoff and sold raffle tickets for a restored and modified red 1968 Chevy Camaro. The organization aims to raise $100,000 from the Camaro raffle. The car was on display at Saturday’s BBQ cookoff and will be displayed again at the annual Hill Country Rally Car and Bike Show on October 5 at Speedy Springs in Henley. Auto enthusiasts can enter their car, truck, or motorbike for awards, which will be presented by the boys from the Burke Center for Youth. The event is open to the public.
The raffle winner of the Camaro will be drawn and announced at this year’s Gala on October 12. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased online at hcrally.betterworld. org.
In May, the charity held a clay shoot and has previously hosted a golf tournament. They also accept donations from individuals and corporate sponsorships.
Their annual Gala, the capstone of their fundraising season, is scheduled for October 12 at Hog Heaven in Dripping Springs. This pinnacle event includes a 'state of the union' presentation on last year's contributions, current trends, and goals for the upcoming year. Top contributors and donors are personally thanked by the board and attendees. The Gala features live music, dancing, dinner, auction items, and adult beverages. Tickets are required to attend, with all proceeds going to the Rally's charities. Sponsorships are also available for purchase at the event.
For more information about the Hill Country Rally for Kids, including sponsorship opportunities and event or raffle ticket information, visit hcrally.com.
Volunteer judges taste and rate pork ribs at the Hill Country Rally for Kids BBQ Cook-off on July 27 at Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood.The Rally is a charity organization of volunteers in Hays County that raised and distributed $200,000 to local children's charities in 2023. On display at the event was a 1968 Camaro the organization is raffling off to one lucky winner. Johnson High School students, Dorian and Gavin DeYoung, pass the time playing cornhole while waiting for their team’s brisket to be done.
