In just three short years, Rankin High School has built the Red Devils barbecue (烤肉) team that has become one of the most well-known in the state. The team has won $67, 000 (433, 691 yuan) in scholarships (奖学金) in the State High School BBQ Championships.
However, the million dollar question is: How does each competition work with high school barbecue?
According to the rules of competing, all meat must be provided on the day of the competition. No marinating (腌制)，or spicing (加香料) before the official start time is allowed. As for the way of judging, all the foods are supposed to be served in the same dishware (餐具). The teams turn in their foods, which include chicken, pork, beef, beans and a dessert.
"We can't do much except talk to them in the competition, but practices will include going over the basics and showing the kids how to improve some things. " Robbie McClure, the coach of the team said.
The Red Devils barbecue team has a special way to practice and often uses experiences such as cooking for school board meetings, money-raising activities and at-home sports meetings as a way to get better. They've cooked in 18-degree weather and in wind storms.
"Our classroom includes sitting down and talking about it for 20 or 30 minutes and then go out and start something and then come back in and do something else, " McClure said. "They keep notebooks and write down and follow up. If you cook in a snowstorm, you have to cook longer because it takes forever. "
"It's hard to explain, but I like the experience," TJ Templeton, who has been a part of the program for all three years said. "It's something you know for a life-long time. You can use it every day, and it's just really fun competing with your friends. "
