2012 Black Hills BBQ Festival: Tony Balay wins Amateur Cook-off

RAPID CITY – Thirty-three entries were judged in the Amateur BBQ Cook-off held during the 2nd Annual Black Hills BBQ Festival on Sunday, June. 10.

The cook-off, sponsored by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council and the South Dakota Pork Producers, featured four divisions: beef, beef ribs, pork and pork ribs. All entries were judged on appearance, taste and tenderness.

Rapid City’s Tony Balay swept the competition by winning all four divisions, taking home $1,000 worth of prize money. A total of $2,000 was awarded to top three finishers.

Winners of the competition:

Beef Division: 1. Tony Balay, Rapid City, SD; 2. (tie) Douglas Gerry, Rapid City, SD and Rich Grable, Sr., Kadoka, SD.

Beef Ribs Division: 1. Tony Balay, Rapid City, SD; 2. Daryl Kunzi, Rapid City, SD; and 3. Wade Rhodes, Black Hawk, SD.

Pork Division: 1. Tony Balay, Rapid City, SD; 2. Michael Hagen, Rapid City, SD; and 3. Jeremy Rieger, Summerset, SD.

Pork Ribs Division: 1. Tony Balay, Rapid City, SD; 2. Danny Watt, Rapid City, SD; and 3. Daryl Kunzi, Rapid City, SD.