PRESENTED BY:
Cooking Team Information to Know
Saturday, April 11th, 2026
Olive Branch City Park
We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with amazing grill masters like you in the DeSoto Wings and Ribs Competition and Festival again this year. This community-wide event and showcase of the mid-south’s cooking teams would not be possible without you!
Every dollar you’re helping raise through this event is benefitting the DeSoto County Dream Center and launching the new Dream Center Olive Branch location, expanding vital services that provide educational assistance, emergency food, and clothing to underserved individuals and families throughout the community.
To make your experience easier this year, we are including everything cooking teams need for the competition all on this page.
Competition Day Location
Olive Branch City Park
8267 Goodman Rd
Olive Branch, MS 38654
**Please enter the park using the Highway 305 entrance
Family Friendly Event
Alcohol-free environment
Clean, appropriate music and entertainment
Respectful, positive engagement with all guests
Competition Day Schedule
7:00 – 9:00 AM
Team Set-Up
9:00 AM
Mandatory Cook’s Meeting (Judge’s Tent)
11:00 AM
People’s Choice Tasting Begins
12:00 PM
Judges Check-In
1:00 PM
Traditional Wings Turn-In
2:00 PM
Unique Wings Turn-In
2:30 PM
Blazin’ Challenge Check-In
2:30 PM
People’s Choice Tasting Ends
3:00 PM
Ribs Turn-In
Blazin’ Challenge Begins
4:00 PM
Awards Ceremony (or when judging concludes)
Team Setup & Guidelines
Team Spots
Team spots will be assigned when you arrive.
If you want to be beside another team, you must arrive together.
Tent Requirements
All tents MUST have weights on each leg.
The competition surface is concrete, so stakes will NOT work.
Your tent must be placed beside your vehicle and facing the crowd.
Vehicle Access
Unload between:
7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Each team may keep:
• One vehicle
• One trailer attached
Vehicles will not be allowed back
into the festival area until after awards.
NEW: Fan Favorite Competition
This year we are introducing a new way for teams to compete and make an impact.
What is Fan Favorite?
The Fan Favorite competition allows your supporters to vote for your team online. Each vote is $5, and every dollar supports the work of the DeSoto County Dream Center.
Why Participate?
Your participation helps provide:
• Food assistance
• Educational support
• Community outreach programs
What Your Team Gets
Recognition at awards ceremony
Fan Favorite bragging rights
Increased exposure
Engagement from your supporters
A chance to positively impact families in crisis through the DeSoto County Dream Center
How It Works
• Each team receives a voting link
• Supporters vote for $5 per vote
• Voting is unlimited
Help Us Spread the Word!
We have developed tools to help you spread the word so that friends and family can vote for YOUR team as their Fan Favorite. Included in this shared folder are graphics and a sample email and social media post to help you easily encourage people to vote for your team, while also spreading hope and sharing vital resources with the underserved in our community!
Clean-Up Expectations
Teams are responsible for keeping their cooking area clean.
Please help us protect Olive Branch City Park by:
Keeping your area tidy
Using designated trash containers
Respecting park facilities and grass areas
Special containers will be provided for:
Grease disposal
Charcoal and ash
Meat Pick-Up Details
If your team qualified for free wings you will receive an email from Terri for pick up times and dates.
Special thanks to Corky’s for donating wings to People’s Choice team early registrants.
Competition Rules & Judging
Wings Categories
Teams must provide: 5 Drummies and 5 Flats per category
Traditional Wings
• Meat only
• No garnish allowed
Unique Wings
• Creative category
• Garnish allowed
• Presentation encouraged
Only drummies and flats are allowed. You may brine wings in advance, but no cooking may be done before competition day.
Rib Category
Teams must provide: Minimum of 6 ribs
Rules:
• Baby Back Ribs only
• Bone-in only
• No garnish allowed
Ribs will be picked up and eaten by judges.
Judging Criteria
All categories will be judged on:
• Appearance
• Taste
• Tenderness
Additional rules found here or email Jody at jh@jodyharrisinc.com
People’s Choice Competition
If your team signed up for People’s Choice, thank you! This is one of the most exciting parts of the festival for our guests.
How It Works
There will be 300 official People’s Choice Tasters.
Each taster receives a lanyard listing all teams.
When a guest receives a wing sample: mark off your team’s name on their lanyard using the provided marker.
After tasting, guests vote for their top four teams at the Info Tent.
The People’s Choice Winner receives:
People’s Choice Trophy
Half of all People’s Choice entry fees
All the bragging rights
Serving Time
Please have wings ready starting at:
11:00 AM
Serving ends at:
2:30 PM
Important Rule
Please DO NOT give out free wings. Guests must Purchase a People’s Choice Taster Ticket from the Info Tent.
Questions
Email: tsparkman@desotodreamcenter.org
Phone: 901-831-9093
We can’t wait to see you on April 11!