The grills, smokers and barbecues were fired up and ready to go Friday before the start of the seventh annual Big Island Bar-B-Que at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

The event, which ran from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, is a Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned state championship where the top three winners — one each from the chili, barbecue and dessert categories — can compete at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas.

There were over 50 teams from five different states at the event to compete for the $10,000 in prize money.

Brothers Rich and Bruce Jensen of the Albert Lea-based Smokin’ Bros have been competing for six years. The brothers also run a catering business and are one of the vendors at Big Island’s event.

Bruce said that barbecuing is a Jensen family tradition, as he stood next to their father, Gordy, at the grill. Bruce’s favorite part of competing is the adrenaline rush.

“I don’t think people always get what a big deal it is,” he said. “We have to put out a product every half-hour and have it taste good and look good.”

Smokin’ Bros offers ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and chicken. Rich said that his favorite, and one of the more popular sellers, is the ribs.

“Everybody loves them,” he said.

Chris Axsmith with Rendezvous Rib Rack has been cooking professionally for seven years. He said Rendezvous’ speciality is the rib rack stack, which is a burger — made with fresh ground beef from Jordahl Meats — topped with shredded ribs. Axsmith said Rendezvous’ proceeds from the event go towards the educational side of the Big Island Rendezvous and Festival.

Matt Tyler and Joe Duckert with Black Dog BBQ came in from Mason City to compete. It was the duo’s third year at the Big Island competition. Tyler said they compete in about 15 competitions a year, and Big Island was their 12th so far in 2014. He said they compete around the Midwest, and won first place and $1,000 in the pork category at a competition in Oklahoma.

“To travel that far and win was great,” said Tyler.

Black Dog barbecues ribs, brisket, pork and chicken, and both Tyler and Duckert agreed that the chicken is their favorite.

Tyler said they’ll be traveling to Wisconsin next weekend for their next competition, but that some of their favorites have been right here in Minnesota, including a Mankato competition and the Big Island Bar-B-Que itself.

“This is a fun one,” said Tyler. “The people are great.”