Featured Artist: Michael Kraft

Q: When did you first become interested in cooking?

A: In 2012. I’m on a barbeque team and we went to our first competition three years ago in Platte City with my my dad and two family friends. We have some friends who participated in this competition and so we thought it looked like fun, too. We did it with them at first, but then we realized it was a blast and started doing it on our own.

Q:Who taught you how to barbeque?

A: Probably my Dad, but neither of us really knew how to do it going into it – nobody really knew how to do it – until we started the competitions and did it enough and now we’re pretty good.

Q: What’s your role on the team?

A: I make the chicken because in every competition we have to turn in four different meats, and I’m in charge of the chicken. We all kind of help out with random stuff, too.

Q: What goes into competing in a barbeque competition?

A: The competitions are a two day thing. We get there early on Friday and cook all day, because a lot of the stuff takes like twelve hours to make. Generally you stay up all night Friday cooking and then Saturday morning you have to turn your food in at noon. Then its judged and they give you the results within a couple hours.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from barbecuing?

A: Last Summer we were in the Lenexa competition, which is the Kansas state one. It was thunder-storming and lightning and it was really stressful but we ended up getting first place! That was definitely the best thing that’s ever happened at a competition.

Q: Do you see yourself cooking in the future?

A: I don’t see it as a career but I think it’s a good thing to know. Especially when I come home from college in the Summer, I’ll be able to do stuff with it, like making money through catering. Its just a good thing to know how to do.