The Kansas City Barbeque Society will come to Austin on May 14 to teach anyone with a love of barbecue what the certified barbecue judges are looking for.

“Many backyard barbecuers don’t know how professionals determine what ‘good’ barbecue really is,” said expert Mike Lake, who will be schooling the participants in how to properly judge barbecue. “With this class you will be able to fine tune your palate and get a feel for competitive barbecuing at the highest level.”

During the class, attendees will learn how to judge food based on the society’s three key categories: appearance, taste and texture.

Once certified, participants can judge in cooking events, both locally and regionally.

The $85 cost for the class covers food and supply expenses, and also includes a one-year KCBS membership (current KCBS members can take the class for $50). With more than 10,000 members, KCBS is the largest barbecue organization in the world, sanctioning nearly 300 events coast to coast.

The class will be held at the Mower County Fairgrounds, 700 12th St. S.W.

The class begins at 5:30 p.m.

Contact Perry Vining at pvining@smig. net, or call (507) 402-6371.

Visit www.kcbs.us for more information.