Meat Rushmore, the winner of the third annual Made for Kansas City BBQ Championship, celebrated the start of an 18 month showcase in the Made of KC BBQ Experience restaurant at Kansas City International Airport (A) with an official passing of the barbecue trophy from the most recent competition winners, O.G. Bandits on September 5, 2025.

As part of Vantage Group’s shopping and dining concessions program at MCI which opened with the new terminal in February 2023, Outstanding Hospitality Management Group (OHM) partnered with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) to create an ongoing barbeque contest designed to provide opportunities for a variety of talented pitmasters to showcase their award-winning recipes to a traveling audience at MCI.

Meat Rushmore BBQ, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., were crowned Grand Champions, winning a $10,000 prize and a licensing opportunity for 18 months in the 8,000 square foot competition barbeque themed restaurant located in the airport’s Concourse B. The menu will now feature Meat Rushmore’s award-winning recipes as part of the overall concessions program that celebrates local restaurateurs and showcases local Kansas City businesses.

Joel and Katie Fleetwood, Eric Alfrey, and Josh Wunner, the pitmasters behind Meat Rushmore, got their start as a group of friends who liked to cook and feed their families and friends. A 2012 work event at the American Royal led to their first competition, followed by taking the opportunity to hone their craft during the 2020 global pandemic when they competed in outdoor competitions weekly, winning more awards that year than in all previous years combined. In 2022, they were featured on an episode of Food Network’s BBQ USA with Michael Symon, followed by multiple Grand and Reserve Championship competition wins.

How do they feel about having their award-winning recipes served at Kansas City International Airport?

“It’s a dream come true,” said Joel Fleetwood. “I’m sure it will really sink in when I see our logo up, and our food coming out of the kitchen, but right now it just feels like a dream. We’re not restaurant people. We’re not chefs. We’re bankers, and HR people, and logistics people that like to cook meat. It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come and to know that this is just the beginning.”

Meat Rushmore’s focus is on creating the most tender and flavorful meat possible. “Tender meat combined with our award winning seasonings and sauces is a combination that cannot miss,” said Fleetwood.

Fleetwood said travelers at MCI will appreciate Meat Rushmore’s original flavors in their Cubano tacos and the KC Gobbler, as well as their burnt ends. “These are everything you love about BBQ, Cubano sandwiches, and tacos all in one dish. The KC Gobbler is a sandwich that we have prepared in Turkey Smoke competitions all over the country. These always are a hit with the judges, and travelers will love them, too. Then, you cannot go wrong with our burnt ends, a KC must try!”

“I’m thrilled to celebrate the incredible local people and businesses that make Kansas City International Airport a welcoming gateway to our city,” said Melissa Cooper, Director of Aviation, City of Kansas City. “As passenger travel continues to grow, more visitors will have the chance to enjoy the best of KC’s flavors and traditions—like those showcased at the Made for KC BBQ Experience restaurant.”

“The KC BBQ Experience at Kansas City International Airport is more than just a restaurant, it is a celebration of Kansas City’s world-renowned barbecue culture and a showcase of our city’s culinary talent to travelers from across the globe. This uniquely Kansas City dining experience was honored with the prestigious 2025 FAB Award for Best Casual Dining in a Medium-Sized Airport, anywhere in the world. This recognition validates not only the authenticity of the concept, but also the hard work and dedication of our entire team, as well as the incredible pitmasters who bring true Kansas City barbecue to life every day,” said Milan Patel, President & CEO, OHM. “Additionally, we sincerely thank our outgoing and award-winning pitmaster, Ashton Smith of the O.G. Bandits, for her contributions, and proudly welcome Meat Rushmore, the reigning champions of the Made for KC BBQ Championship to the MCI airport family.”

The Made for Kansas City BBQ Championship is supported by local barbeque non-profit organizations and their deep knowledge of the history of barbeque and competitions.

About Vantage Group

Vantage Group is a global leader in airport and transportation investment, development, management, and advisory services. Since 1994, Vantage’s corporate and network-wide team has managed an award-winning portfolio, building strong partnerships that integrate global expertise and local know-how to solve complex transportation challenges at every network location. Over three decades, Vantage has built a track record of creating customized solutions to transform airports and transportation centers that benefit the passengers, stakeholders, and communities they serve. Vantage is a wholly owned strategic platform of Investcorp Corsair Infrastructure Partners for capital deployment in the airport and transportation sectors.

About Outstanding Hospitality Management Group (OHM)

OHM is a Missouri headquartered airport food and beverage concession operator with a diverse portfolio of in-demand local, regional, national, and international restaurants at 13 of the nation’s best airports. OHM operates a majority of the locally and regionally inspired restaurants at MCI. Our “local means local” philosophy is at the heart of the MCI food and beverage concessions program representing a dynamic and diverse cross-section of iconic brands and concepts, including our commitment to work with local vendors, suppliers, distilleries, wineries, bakeries, and boutique vendors.

About the Kansas City Barbeque Society

The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, promoting, and educating the public about barbeque as a distinctively American cuisine. KCBS is the world’s largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts, with approximately 16,000 members in the U.S. and over 35 countries. KCBS sanctions nearly 400 barbeque contests worldwide each year; including destination contests such as the American Royal World Series of Barbeque© and the Jack Daniel’s Invitational.

About the New Terminal at Kansas City International Airport

At just over 1 million square feet, the Kansas City International Airport New Terminal is the largest single infrastructure project in the City’s history. Opened in February 2023, the facility replaced the aging three-terminal complex with a single, modern terminal and 6,000-plus space garage that has improved the traveling experience for residents and visitors.

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