As shown by our state's most strikingly groomed secessionist, there comes a time for even the most state-xenophobic to embrace national unity, which is why the formerly TX-only Gettin' Sauced Festival has opened their floodgates to outside competition: 20 different states and 3 countries bringing 150+ varieties of dudely condiments. To help guide you through the masses of molasses, here's the deets on some of the heavier hitters:

• Last year's winner Joseph's Riverport is out of the picture, so Food Network-featured runner-up Texas Pride BBQ are poised for a big showing with a sauce that starts from a base of onions caramelized in bacon fat.
• So far the only Canadian contestant, Ontario-based Busters is entering mild, chipotle, and habanero versions of their meat-gravy, every variety of which is infused with blueberry, but not until after they've smoked it to come up with ideas like blueberry BBQ sauce.
• After fattening up friends for 30yrs before hitting the bottle, IL's Two Fat Guys are repping four styles including a Hot Lava flavor, perhaps foreshadowing the eruption to come.
• Lauded as having the best ribs 'cross the Atlantic, Londontown's Bodean labels their vessels with a warning about potential addiction, by which point you'll have consumed enough to make it impossible to take 12 steps.
• Ohio's mail-order porkers Pig of the Month are entering a whopping six rib-wetters, from the teriyaki & pineapple Get Lei'd to the Carolina-influenced Colonel Mustard, which was created in the kitchen. With a ladle.

Since you'll want to put this stuff on some actual BBQ, there will be several brisket purveyors, including Lockhart favorite Black's, and our own Franklin -- a name that reminds us of a founding father whose love of France proved he was no xenophobe, but who probably should have worn a Rick Perry wig.