Press

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Smokers!

August 31, 2016

SMITHFELD, WORLD SERIES OF BARBECUE® PRESENTING SPONSOR

Left to right. American Royal Board Chairman Angie Stanland, Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren, American Royal Chair-Elect Charlie Tetrick and President & CEO Lynn Parman at the new site for the 2016 World Series of Barbecue®.

The American Royal is excited to announce Smithfield as the Presenting Sponsor of the 37th American Royal World Series Of Barbecue®, being held, for the first time at Kansas Speedway this fall, October 26-30, 2016.

For hundreds of competitors and elite teams on the barbecue circuit, this new weekend makes the World Series of Barbecue® an exciting finale to the competitive barbecue season. For our fans and attendees, it means the party of the year rolls on at an exciting new venue.

Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said he welcomes the chance to host one of Kansas City’s great annual festivals.

“Every year, people from around the city and around the country circle this event on their calendar,” Warren said. “We’re looking forward to showing all the contestants and fans a great time at our unique venue. Welcome to Kansas Speedway!”

The World Series of Barbecue® will also mark the finale of the Smithfield Hog Wild Throwdown, a summer-long pork barbecue contest inviting pork fans nationwide to grill, vote, and play for the chance to win one of two 2016 Ford F-150 XL pickup trucks and take home the title of the Smithfield Hog Wild Throwdown champion.

“We could not think of a better event to bring our Smithfield Hog Wild Throwdown Finale to life,” said Emily Detwiler, Senior Brand Manager – Fresh Pork Marketing. “The American Royal is one of the most well-known barbecue competitions and we are thrilled to partner with the American Royal to share Smithfield’s commitment to quality pork and passion for BBQ with thousands of the biggest barbecue enthusiasts in the world.”

This is the second year Smithfield has shown its support for the American Royal and the World Series of Barbecue®. In 2015 Smithfield was the World Series of Barbecue® Rib Category Sponsor.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Smithfield, a nationally recognized company with over 500 employees in the Kansas City area, stated Lynn Parman, President and CEO of the American Royal. It’s because of the support of companies like Smithfield that the American Royal is able to provide agricultural competitive learning, educational experiences, and scholarships that inspire and cultivate dreams.”

For more information, stay tuned to our website: https://www.americanroyal.com//events