Meat lovers: Sharpen those knives. Foodies: Prepare your bellies. Butcher's Ball is coming. 

The annual celebration of local farms and ranches, and one of the biggest events on the Houston food calendar, is set for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 20 at Rockin' Star Ranch in Brenham. More than 50 chefs, butchers, farmers, ranches, bartenders, and educators are lined up, and 20 of them will participate in the 2019 Golden Cleaver competition.

For those unaware, the Golden Cleaver competition asks chefs to use proteins from Texas ranchers. The best bite, according to the public, wins ... yup, the golden cleaver. Tony Luhrman of El Topo food truck won it last year.

Local chefs to compete include Dawn Burrell of Kulture, Martin Stayer of Nobie's, Monica Pope of Sparrow Cookshop, Jonny Rhodes of Indigo, and Austin Simmons of TRIS. Joining them will be a bunch of chefs from across the state, including Bramwell Tripp, formerly of Coltivare and The Pit Room, and now at Austin's Loro.

Also attending the festival as part of the collaborative Open Fire Farm & Ranch Showcase are locals like Richard Knight of Atlas Diner, Ryan Hildenbrand of FM Kitchen and Bar, Erin Smith and Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ, Bobby Matos of La Lucha and State of Grace, and EJ Miller of International Smoke.

Tickets for the Butcher's Ball start at $100.

And on Oct. 19, a VIP dinner is set ($150 per person) to benefit Urban Harvest, which will include at least 12 chefs.