LIVINGSTON – Barbeque enthusiasts from across the region will converge on Livingston come November, each vying for the title of Grand Champion of the Fourth Annual Sucarnochee BBQ & Blues Cook-off.

The cookoff, a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event, is sponsored by the University of West Alabama Division of Educational of Outreach and the Center for the Study of the Black Belt and will be held Nov. 4-5.

The festivities begin Friday at 5 p.m. with music and fun on at the UWA intramural fields.

“The Sucarnochee BBQ & Blues Cook-off recognizes the long-standing tradition of holding barbeques in the Black Belt region of Alabama, and the cook-off is a fun, family event for us each fall,” said Dr. Tina N. Jones, Executive Director of UWA’s Center for the Study of the Black Belt. “Many of our cook teams will be returning to test their culinary skills, and we look forward to welcoming them back to campus and experiencing their tasty offerings.”

The 18th of 19 competitions on the 2011 Alabama Championship BBQ Trail, the cook-off will feature an $8,250 payout in two divisions. Professional teams will go head-to-head in four categories: pork, ribs, chicken and brisket. Backyard teams, comprised mostly of local amateurs, will compete with ribs, chicken and pulled pork entries.

Optional dessert and sauce categories are also open to all cook teams.

To register your barbeque team, please contact Stephen Liverman at UWA’s Center for the Study of the Black Belt at 205-652-5405.