FAQS

The LFCA offers five membership levels: Competition Team, Judge/Organizer, Creator Member, Featured Creator, and Flame Keepers.

Competition Team, Judge/Organizer, and Creator memberships are $50/year. Featured Creator membership is $100/year and requires an application. Flame Keeper membership is $150/year and is by invitation only.

Visit our membership page to select your membership level and complete registration. Featured Creator applicants must submit an application for review. Flame Keeper membership is by invitation only.

Memberships renew annually on the date you originally joined.

Competition Team Membership is issued per team, not per individual. Each team must register with a designated head cook who serves as the official team representative for membership, points, and event eligibility.

No. A current LFCA Competition Team Membership is required to compete in any LFCA-sanctioned event and to earn points toward Team of the Year standings and World Championship qualification.

Log in to your LFCA member account and navigate to your profile settings to update your information.

To cancel your membership, log in to your account and navigate to membership settings, or contact us directly.

Visit our Events page for a full list of upcoming LFCA-sanctioned competitions near you.

Both styles require a live fire — a fire burning on its own without electricity or propane to stay alive — and both require wood or charcoal as the heat source. The difference is that Open Fire cooking requires the grill to remain uncovered at all times, while Live Fire cooking allows the cook to close the lid for greater control over temperature, smoke, and airflow.

Equipment rules vary by event type. In both Open Fire and Live Fire competitions, propane or gas equipment, pellet grills, and electric cooking devices are not permitted. Open Fire competitions additionally prohibit any grills with closeable lids. Electric rotisseries, blenders, and other non-cooking electric accessories are allowed in both formats.

Wood and charcoal are the only permitted fuel sources. Propane, gas, and pellet grills are not allowed at any LFCA-sanctioned event.

Judges score each entry on five criteria: Presentation (15%), Appearance (15%), Technique (20%), Flavor (30%), and Overall Impression (20%). Scores range from 8-10, with Overall Impression scored to two decimal places.

Yes. Organizers may offer optional ancillary categories in addition to the required entrée category. Teams may enter any categories offered at their event.

Every team earns 1 point for competing. The top three finishing teams earn additional points: 1st place earns 10 points, 2nd place earns 8 points, and 3rd place earns 6 points. The team with the most points at the end of the season is named LFCA Team of the Year.

Compete in LFCA-sanctioned qualifier events. Events must have a minimum of 10 registered teams to count as an official qualifier for the World Championship.

Purchase a Judge/Organizer Membership and register to judge at upcoming LFCA-sanctioned events in your area. Ultimately, LFCA reps and organizers will select judges for each event.

Yes. A current LFCA Judge/Organizer Membership is required to serve as a judge at any LFCA-sanctioned event.

No. Judges may not judge any event in which they are also competing.

Judges are vetted by the LFCA and must attend the Judge’s Meeting at each event they participate in.

Visit the Organizer page and complete the application form. All sanctioned events must work directly with an LFCA Representative and must have a minimum of 10 registered teams.

Please review the Organizer Guide for full details on what’s required to host a sanctioned contest.

Contact the LFCA as early as possible to begin the sanctioning process. Specific deadlines will be provided by your LFCA Representative.

Creator Membership is for content creators who live and breathe BBQ and live fire cooking. It provides a way to get involved, make connections, and be part of the LFCA community.

Submit a Featured Creator application. Applications are reviewed based on content quality, audience reach, engagement, professionalism, and contribution to the live fire community.

Flame Keeper membership is by invitation only and is reserved for top-tier creators and industry leaders. It is extended and approved directly by the LFCA.

Creator Membership does not replace Competition Team or Judge/Organizer Membership. Members who want to compete, judge, or earn points must also hold the appropriate membership level.

The Live Fire Cooking Association (LFCA) is a food sport sanctioning body created to give live fire cooking its own identity, structure, and future. Built to honor the oldest culinary traditions in human history, the LFCA accelerates the growth of live fire cooking through fair competition, consistent judging standards, cook team recognition, education, events, and community connection.

The LFCA was co-founded by three of the most respected voices in live fire cooking: Al Frugoni (Open Fire Meat Up), Mike Starr (Blazing Star BBQ), and Christie Vanover (Girls Can Grill).

The LFCA officially launched at the Open Fire World Championship at Memphis in May in 2026.