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There are few experiences more quintessentially American than a state fair.
Here in Indiana, we don’t mess around. Take a cross section of Hoosiers from all across the state, add in the fragrance of fried food, farm animals and turkey legs, and you’ve got yourself a “perfect” August day in Indiana.
This year, I was given the opportunity to serve as a judge for the Backyard BBQ Cook-Off, hosted one Saturday during the State Fair. While I showed up expecting great food, I left with a renewed appreciation for something else entirely: courage.
Specifically, I left with an admiration for those willing to put their creativity, talent and passion in front of total strangers and ask them to pass judgment.
This is not my first rodeo when it comes to food judging. I have judged two Spam cookoffs and a homemade ice cream competition, plus this barbecue contest twice before. I can fully admit that not all barbecue judges are created equal. Some of us didn’t go to culinary school, and none of us are Kansas City Barbecue Society-certified.
Still, there we were, charged with evaluating ribs, pork chops, chicken and hog burgers—rating appearance, taste and texture. We did our best to be fair, to be consistent and to give every entry a full and objective assessment.
It’s a long day of judging, and an even longer day of competing. What struck me most, however, wasn’t the technical precision of the scoring but the obvious pride and effort behind each submission. For many contestants, this isn’t a profession; it’s a passion project,
a hobby, maybe even a family tradition.
Yet for something they didn’t get paid to do, they poured more blood, sweat and tears into the entries than some people I know do into their full-time jobs. And that’s exactly why they deserve our best effort as judges.
It reminded me of the workplace, where we’re often asked to provide feedback to peers or team members. Too often, that feedback is either avoided entirely or delivered in a way that’s unhelpful or, even worse, discouraging. The truth is, if someone is willing to step into the arena, whether it’s through a smoker on a Saturday or in a conference room on a Tuesday, they deserve feedback that helps them grow.
That starts by leading with the positives. In the judging tent, we made a conscious effort to acknowledge what each contestant did well before diving into areas for improvement. That’s not just politeness, it’s professionalism. Constructive criticism doesn’t mean pulling punches, but it does mean offering input that’s actionable, respectful and rooted in a desire to see the other person get better.
There’s a right way to tell someone their chicken was dry. Just like there’s a right way to tell a colleague their presentation missed the mark. Being honest doesn’t mean being harsh. Being direct doesn’t mean being dismissive. The point of feedback is to coach people up, not cut them down.
I’m grateful to the Indiana State Fair for creating spaces like this barbecue contest where people can showcase their passion and talent in a competitive yet supportive environment. It was a reminder that judgment, when done right, is an act of service.
To the contestants, thank you for stepping up and putting yourself out there. It’s never easy. And to all of us who serve as “judges” in any part of our lives, let’s take that responsibility seriously and give others the same grace and encouragement we hope to receive ourselves.•
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Rateike is founder of BAR Communications and served as director of cabinet communications for President Donald Trump. This is his new headshot. Send comments to [email protected].
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