Bush's Bean Bake-off sponsored by Augusta Church Youth Group

Unleash your inner bean artist! The Bean & Bacon Days Bean Bake-off Competition is your chance to shine! Whether you're a seasoned pro or a passionate amateur, bring your best  baked beans recipe and compete for top honors! Prizes for most "Popular Vote" and "Judges Choice". Cash prizes based on number of entries;  50% of fees go to  Augusta Church Youth Group camp sponsorships,  25% to "Judge’s Choice" winner,  and 25% to "Popular Vote" winner.

Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 11am

Pre-register: text “beans” to 715-200-9200

Day-of registration: 10:30am (limited space, please pre-register)

Augusta Lion’s Field 

Cost:

$25 Entry Fee (cash only)

Baked Bean Cook-off Entry Rules:

• Must be made ahead of time and delivered to the field by 10:30 am day of the contest 
• ALL beans must be  Bush's  Beans (you pick the kind/flavor).  
• Any meat or vegetable additions cannot be larger than the beans themselves. Bush's Beans MUST BE the main part of every entry.
• Must be a baked bean recipe not a chili; "Chili Beans Vs. Baked Beans: What's The Difference?" by Matthew Spina  
• Make at least 6 - 8 quarts (common size of slow cookers is 6-7 quarts);  recommend making a full slow cooker of the entry as the "Popular Vote" is a prize winner. If you run out of entry and people cannot taste test it, they cannot vote on it. 
• List of ingredients must be submitted ahead of time to augustawisconsinlions@gmail.com. Please bring a printed copy day of too. All ingredients will be kept private and deleted after event. Ingredients are collected for health and safety information only. Recipe is not required to be shared, but a comprehensive list of ingredients is, as well as Bush’s Bean use verification must be provided.
• Allergy ingredients clearly identified: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame, and gluten
• Nothing larger than a bean can be included in the judging cup. All ingredients must be smaller in size, or cut to be smaller, than the beans in use. 
• No homegrown, raised, or hunted ingredients
• No additional items (i.e. cornbread, other breads, toppings) are able to be utilized. No additions to the beans after cooking (nothing to be added to the cup for judging) .
• No commercial seasoning mixes are permitted.

Baked Bean Cook-off FAQs:

ALL JUDGING WILL BE BLIND. NO JUDGES, OR POPULAR VOTE TASTERS, WILL BE GIVEN KNOWLEDGE OF WHO MADE EACH DISH. DISHES WILL BE NUMBERED AND VOTERS WILL CHOOSE THEIR FAVORITE AND WRITE DOWN THE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

Tasting Cup: A 3 oz cup and tasting spoon will be provided to tasters. Appointed judges may request a second cup for judging purposes. 

Tasting Cup Limits: Judges may request an additional cup of each entry, but popular voting is limited to one cup per entry, per person.

Judging Criteria:   Appointed Judge criteria is typically based on aroma, appearance, taste, and sometimes aftertaste. Popular vote is completely dependent upon blind tasting and personal preference. 

Does the making of the beans occur onsite - or is it done ahead of time?  Beans should be prepared in advance and brought in a crock pot type container. A power source will be provided to keep dishes warm for taste testing.

Who are the judges or how are judges being recruited?  Judges are recruited from the community and church sponsors. Current Judges are as follows: Pastor Sean Heuer (Lead Pastor at Augusta Church), and Tugger Francel (TBT’s Cafe).

What if someone wants to be a judge?  Judges are pre-selected by invitation only

Can the public try the beans too? Public is encouraged to try the beans and vote for their favorite bean dish. This vote will determine the winner of the popular vote.

Can folks register ahead of time? Yes, by texting “beans” to 715-200-9200. Pre-registration is encouraged as day of registrations are accepted on a case by case basis depending upon room.