The Heartland Network Greenlights Season Two of Barbecue Country

Pitmaster Russ Lannom's National Cooking Challenge Follows 12 Contestants As They Compete for the Title of Barbecue Country Champion: "Best Backyard Cook in America"

The Heartland Network has greenlit Season Two of Russ Lannom's Barbecue Country coming this summer. Pitmaster Russ Lannom's national competition, Barbecue Country, criss-crosses the U.S. in search of the best backyard cooks in America. Lannom's show, an original program under The Heartland Network, follows 12 everyday people as they compete for the title of "Best Backyard Cook in America." The series, 13 episodes long, will reveal Barbecue Country's new champion on its season finale.

Contestants are mentored by professional pitmasters, barbecue legends, chefs and celebrity guest judges. The contest will include challenges such as: The Protein Challenge, Side Dishes, Sauce Creation, Timed Cookoffs, and BBQ Innovation. The judges panel will include barbecue experts, celebrity pitmasters, and food critics who will offer cliff hanging feedback.

“Barbecue Country captures the heart of American cooking—community, creativity, and the pride that comes from firing up the grill in your own backyard,” says Joel Wertman, Co-President & CEO, Get After It Media, whose platforms include The Heartland Network, Retro TV,The Family Channel, The Action Channel, and Rev’n. “Russ brings authenticity, warmth, and real competitive spirit to this series, and Season Two raises the stakes with 12 passionate backyard cooks competing for the title of Best Backyard Cook in America. We’re in pre-production and are so excited to continue celebrating the traditions and flavors that define the Heartland.”

Lannom adds, "‘Barbecue Country’ is a nationwide search for the best backyard cooks in America—self-taught talents who learned their craft in small-town kitchens and on back porches, guided by tradition, instinct, and generations of family recipes. Contestants go head-to-head creating classic backyard favorites. Judged in a family-style tasting, the competition unfolds through a series of eliminations, culminating in a final showdown."

Winners receive a custom grill package, premium one-year supply of Barbecue cooking products, and the title of "Barbecue Country Champion: The Best Backyard Cook in America."

Prospective contestants can start the audition process beginning February 1, by filling out the application HERE.