By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Community members are teaming up to out cook and out spice one another for the Blackbelt Benefit Group’s eighth annual “Rockin’ Riboff” competition.

This year, the group is making a few changes to competition. Instead of being a one- day event like in the past, the event is now being held over a two-day span.

The first day is Friday, April 6, and the cost is $10. Artists Charlie Argo and Five Shot Jack will perform at Play Selma starting at 6 p.m., and there will be a cash Calcutta Auction later that night.

The cook-off will start Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and is free to the public. Also, as an added bonus to the music and ribs, ArtsRevive’s Water/Ways Smithsonian exhibit will be open for the public.

Clay Carmichael, co-founder and secretary for the Blackbelt Benefit Group, said the first 24 teams to sign up for the rib off will be accepted.

Local artist Charlie “Tin Man” Lucas will be painting windows at his studio at 9 Lauderdale St. as a part of the First Morning Art Walk.

Carmichael said another new addition to the rib off is that it is a sanctioned Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) event.

He said KCBS has a standard on the way these types of competitions are judged. The competition will have about 25-30 judges from out of town that have no relationships with competitors.

Participants will have a chance to win prizes from first place to fifth place.

Chicken and ribs are the two categories, and the prizes are as follows: first place will receive $400, second place will get $275, third place gets $150, fourth place earns $75, fifth place gets $50. Reserve Grande Champion will receive $500, and Grande Champion gets $750

Carmichael said they are still accepting participants for the competition. For more information, visit “Blackbelt Benefit Group” on Facebook.