Smithfield Announces 2017 Barbecue Grant Program

SMITHFIELD, Va., Jan. 17, 2017 -- Smithfield continues to invest in competition barbecue by sponsoring events and pitmasters in 2016. The brand is pleased to help fuel the sport of barbecue by announcing the Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program for 2017. The Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program is designed to provide monetary and event support to sanctioned barbecue competitions across the United States. Grants will be awarded to a variety of non-profit, community, and event organizers that host barbecue events, in addition to meeting a number of qualifications and falling within the guidelines of one of the sport’s major sanctioning bodies.

Qualified events that are selected for a Smithfield Grant will receive prize money that will enhance their event and will deepen the prize pool to payout the top 20% of the field. Qualifying criteria for events include sufficient advertising, a guarantee of basic services for participating pitmasters, and that the event be family-friendly.

In 2016, Smithfield committed to an investment in the competition barbecue market through partnerships with winning pitmasters, the creation of the Smokin’ With Smithfield Committed Cooks program, which rewards teams who cook with Smithfield products, and became the first ever Presenting Sponsor of the American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City. Smithfield-sponsored pitmasters Tuffy Stone of Cool Smoke Barbeque and Darren Warth of Iowa’s Smokey D’s took home Grand Champion Titles at the Jack Daniels Invitational, the Sam’s Club Invitational, and the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open respectively in 2016.

The Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program applications are available starting January 18, 2017. To download an application and to learn more about qualifications for the Grant Program, the Committed Cooks Program, or where to buy Smithfield products, please visit www.SmokinWithSmithfield.com.

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia. From hand-trimmed ribs, loins and bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan's Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly's®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

Media Contact:

Green Olive Media for Smithfield
Cecelia Strong
[email protected] 
(917) 371-6247