Jay Kersting's Blog

Add that to the list. 

As of 2:50 P.M. on March 17, 2007, I am a Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Barbeque Judge (CBJ). 

The KCBS judges Chicken, Ribs, Pork, and Beef Brisket.  I can judge all of them. 

I took the course here in Jefferson City as part of the preparation for the upcoming Capital City Cook-Off on April 13-14th (at the Jefferson City Jaycees Fairgrounds).  With about 50-60 teams expected, they need to have about the same number of judges. 

I am taking one for the team.  It is almost a civic duty.  They needed me.  This is my sacrifice and with my assistance, the event can now go on.

As if I did not already know, they taught us a lot about the barbeque process.  There is a BIG difference between Barbeque and Grilling.  Time.  It takes time, to quote George Harrison, it takes patience and time to do it, to do it, to do it right.  Anyone can grill.  Visit Burger King.  No flame broiling in this process.  No gas either...I mean, to cook with.  Afterwords is a different story.

Time is what makes the difference.  These teams show up a couple of days before the judging of the event.  They season, marinate, tenderize, and so on, the meat that they will be preparing.  The morning of the event, they are up early working on things.

Barbeque is serious business.  These teams spend a lot of their time and money on these contests.  Thousands of dollars are invested in their smokers/cookers.  Even more on practicing with different preparations.  And even more on seasonings and sauses.

In order to make things fair, the KCBS sets up guidelines and judging schools to insure that things are done as fairly as is humanly possible.  Our teacher explained the need to be fair in grading.  Some folks in the class were too hard and he had to bring them back to reality.  Some were a little too lenient, but not many so I think he saw how they improved as the class continued on.

As for me, I cannot say if I was head of my class.  But, looking over the course of the day, my judging was fairly consistent with that of our teacher.  What that really means is, that I seemed be bit more objective from the beginning of the class until the end of the class.  Probably two-thirds of the class judged in the extremes in the first couple of categories, but got pretty much in-line with our teacher near the end.  All that means is that they were seeing the things that are important to being a barbeque judge.  The fact that I was pretty consistent throughout the day, and it was a SIX hour class, tells me that I was probably in the top ten percent of the class.

As if you could not tell that by simply looking at me.

Jay Kersting - Certified Barbeque Judge

So, who wants to have me over for dinner?

Maybe I will put the CBJ after my name on my next set of business cards.  Many people list their degrees and certifications, right?

Jay Kersting, B.S.C., C.B.J.

Hmmm....do I list them in the order received?  Or in the order of usefulness?

Posted by Jay Kersting at 03:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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I have posted on here about how I really love my job, how I really enjoy working the folks here.  And how I have really taken to this community.  All of that still is true.  However......

As many of you know, because I am not a wealthy man and I do not have a high paying job, the Kersting family has had to cut corners in order to do what is best for the family.  Kathy, Alex and Ben have stayed behind in Tennessee to let the boys finish the school year and get in one more season of baseball.  Because we had the ability to do this, I have lived in my parents motorhome for the past few weeks.  My employer has been gracious enough to allow me to park it here at work.  It has been a running joke with some folks here, but no one seemed to really mind.  Well, almost no one.

You see, someone complained about a small motorhome being parked under a radio tower.  I do not know for sure who this person is, but I have a pretty good idea.  And, if I am right, I am not surprised. 

I have one question.  Why?  Was I bothering somebody where I am at?  Did I create a bigger eyesore than the 20' satellite dish?  Bigger than the radio tower?  Of course not.

But, because I wanted to do what was best for my family and someone for some reason did not like it, I have to get out of the parking lot by Good Friday. 

So, what has this person accomplished?  They have limited what my family can do prior to everyone getting here.  Thanks.  This person would never understand the importance of family.  They have pissed me off because of what this will now do, not to me because I was getting used to the hardship, but because this will impact my family.  And to anyone who knows me, that is the line you do not cross.

I have been called a lot of things in my life.  Most of them have been to my face.  Carpetbagger comes to mind.  I expect that from having lived in seven states.  Hell, one supposed listener wrote an e-mail complaining about the "out-of-stater" in the morning.  I guess being BORN in MISSOURI doesn't count because I moved when I was seven and again when I was 20 and haven't stayed my whole life here.  Sorry that I am new here.  Shame on me for wanting to do better for my family.

Some people will never understand that.  I have lived in seven states in my life, this is true.  I have not chosen to move my family WITHOUT a lot of talk, consideration and yes, even prayer. 

In recent months, I have learned that a lot of people do not want you to better yourself.  Which is why one former manager refused to say a word to me in my final three weeks of my last job.  Not a peep.  Not a feigned congratulations.  Nothing.  Others did.  I thought they were sincere and I am sure most of them were.  But this one, nothing.  Walk past me in the hallway.  Not even a look in the eye. 

Now, I have experienced this persons soulmate here in Jefferson City. 

To be honest, I feel sorry for both of these people.  I will not mention their names, they are not worth a mention.  But I truly do feel sorry for them.  I did not fit what they wanted me do be, so they condemn me.  How do people develop this mentality?  Is it hate?

Now I have to move by Good Friday.  Now I may have to cancel a trip to see Kathy, Alex and Ben, because one way that we save money has been yanked out from under me.  Thanks to a person who is full of hate, or something. 

I do know one big thing.  If I was this person, none of this could bother me.  This person will never know the love of child.  Even long distance and only through phone calls.  So pity is what comes to mind.  Absolute pity.  Because even your petty actions cannot take that away from me.

Of course I say all this not knowing for sure who complained.  Because the person who complained lacked the common decency to approach me or my employer directly. 

The way I described my suspect, are you really surprised?

Thanks to Liz Hanlon, Mike Engle, Brian Wilson and Darryl Burnett for allowing me to stay at Cumulus-Jefferson City for a while.  You all have no idea how much this has meant to me.  And by allowing me to save money, to my family.

Comments are welcome from anyone willing to post with their real name or common nickname.  All others will be deleted.  If you don't understand why, read this posting again.  I think then you might understand.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

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