SMITHFIELD, Va. – Smithfield is continuing its support of competition barbecue through its Smokin’ with Smithfield grant program. Established in 2017, the grant program provides event support to sanctioned barbecue competitions and increases the prize money in the major meat categories of the competition.

Around 300 barbecue competitions around the country applied for the grants. More than 40 non-profit and community events were awarded grants of up to $4,500 to use during the upcoming 2018 barbecue season.

“We are proud and honored to continue our investment in the sport of competition barbecue,” said Emily Detwiler, director of fresh pork marketing for Smithfield Foods. “This year, we’re excited to nearly double the number of grants awarded versus 2017, deepening our commitment and support of the growing barbecue community.”

The 2018 grant winners are:

• Jan. 20: Slab-O-Rama, Bullhead City, Arizona
• Jan. 27: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook Off, San Antonio, Texas
• March 3: Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship, Onamia, Minnesota
• March 24: Hammond BBQ Challenge, Hammond, Lousiana
• April 6: Smoke in the Spring, Osage City, Kansas
• April 6: 8^th Annual Bull Moose, Somerville, Tennessee
• April 8: Smoke on the Border, Gravette, Arkansas
• April 13: Beeville’s Springfest, Beeville, Texas
• April 20: Rock’n Ribs BBQ Festival, Springfield, Missouri
• April 20: 13^th Annual HANOR Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ, Enid, Oklahoma
• April 20: High on the Hog Festival, Winchester, Tennessee
• April 21: Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash, Venice, Florida
• May 4: Jiggy with the Piggy, Kannapolis, North Carolina
• May 4: Masters in May, Appleton, Wisconsin
• May 12: The BBQ Jamboree Double, Fredericksburg, Virginia
• May 19: 7^th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition, Valley, Nebraska
• May 19: Chesapeake Jubilee KCBS BBQ Cook Off, Chesapeake, Virginia
• May 19: Grand Lake BBQ Festival, Langley, Oklahoma
• May 25: Westmont Red, White & BBQ Contest & Festival, Westmont, Illinois
• June 1: Smokin’ in Steele, Owatonna, Minnesota
• June 2: Big Blue BBQ Championship, Marysville, Kansas
• June 16: 2018 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash/ WV State Championship, Weston, West Virginia
• June 22: Silicon Valley Barbeque Championship, Santa Clara, California
• July 14: Gold Ribbin’ BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• July 21: Smoke on the Mountain, Virginia State BBQ Championship, Galax, Virginia
• July 28: Up in Smoke BBQ Bash, Mason City, Iowa
• July 28: Great Texas Mosquito Festival, Clute, Texas
• July 28: Smoke in the Grove, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
• Aug. 18: Smokefest, Marshall, Minnesota
• Aug. 23: 7^th Annual Deaths Door BBQ, Washington Island, Wisconsin
• Aug. 24: New Holland Summer Fest, New Holland, Pennsylvania
• Sept. 14: Big Brothers, Big Sisters Riverfest, Decatur, Alabama
• Sept. 14: Tilley H-D Biker Blues BBQ Rally, Salisbury, North Carolina
• Sept. 15: Band & BBQ at the Point, Carrollton, Kentucky
• Sept. 16: Table Rock “Boats & Bones”, Kimberling City, Missouri
• Sept. 23: Que by the Sea BBQ Competition & Festival, Seaside Heights, New Jersey
• Sept. 28: The Great Ruleville Roast, Ruleville, Mississippi
• Oct. 13: Cookin’ on the Kaw BBQ Contest, De Soto, Kansas
• Oct. 13: MS Delta State Barbecue Championship/Cleveland Octoberfest, Cleveland, Mississippi
• Oct. 19: Harper County Bullseye BBQ, Harper, Kansas
• Dec. 8: Briscoe Ranch BBQ Cook, Uvalde, Texas

To learn more about the Smokin’ With Smithfield program, visit www.SmokinWithSmithfield.com.