Kiwanis BBQ Braggin’ Rights returns to Morgan County Fairgrounds

Smoke, judging and bragging rights will draw people to the Morgan County Fairgrounds on Saturday as the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club brings back its annual BBQ Braggin’ Rights fundraiser at the 4-H building, 110 N. Westgate Ave. in Jacksonville. Gates open at noon, judging starts at 2:30 p.m., and the event remains one of the club’s biggest money-makers for Kiwanis charities focused on children.

Krystal Bradley, one of the chairpersons, said the cooking will happen Friday night into Saturday morning, keeping the competition rooted in the full barbecue process that local cooks and fans have come to expect. The public can come in at noon, take the tour, vote for favorites and buy food to eat on the grounds. Admission is $10 per person, children ages 6 to 12 are $5, and children 5 and under are free.

This year’s event will also move a little differently. No bags of meat will be sold for carryout, which keeps the focus on the on-site experience at the fairgrounds rather than a walk-up purchase. For families, that means the day is built around staying, tasting and watching the competition unfold in real time.

The fundraiser will also carry a tribute to retired chef Randy Shearburn. A portion of the proceeds will be donated in his honor, with part of that money going to the Jacksonville High School football team, tying the event to both a local legacy figure and a current school program. That link gives the day a broader payoff than a single Saturday outing: it helps fund youth projects, supports civic work that depends on volunteers, and sends money back into Morgan County kids’ programs and school life.