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WashMo BBQ, Bikes, & Blues Festival

Washington, MO

April 27 & 28, 2019

Downtown Washington, MO hosted the 11th annual WashMO BBQ, Bikes & Blues Festival in their historic downtown district. The three-day, the family-oriented event featured a KCBS Master Series barbecue competition, live blues music, a vintage street market, and a motorcycle show.

The Vintage Market in downtown is a primary fundraiser for Grace’s Place, which provides emergency shelter for children.

  • Downtown Washington, MO
  • Downtown Washington, MO
  • Vintage Market during the WashMo BBQ, Bikes & Blues Festival

Thirty-nine teams vied for the Grand Champion Award, which was earned by Hickory Stick BBQ with a score of 691. Congrats to Tim Sheer and his Shake ‘n Bake BBQ team for the Reserve Grand Champion with points totaling 690.8. Shake ‘N Bake BBQ also had a 180 on Chicken and first place in Pork! Hickory Stick BBQ was in the top five in three of four categories!

  • Grand Champion – Hickory Stick BBQ
  • Reserve Grand Champion, Shake ‘N Bake, accepting their award.

The Smoking Hills BBQ Team rounded out the top three with a 690.7772 score, or just .0228 behind Shake ‘N Bake! Goes to show that every point counts in competition BBQ!

Washington, MO is why we love being on the RV BBQ Trail! Washington is a welcoming and progressive city with a bustling downtown. Situated right on the Missouri River and about 45 minutes from St. Louis you can find lots to do with wineries, The Lewis & Clark Trail, shopping and multiple restaurants.

Click on the Find Us tab to see our upcoming competitions. Hope to see you on the trail!

  • The Smoking Hills BBQ Team – 3rd Chicken, 4th Pork Ribs, 3rd place overall.
  • Reserve Grand Champion – Shake ‘N Bake BBQ Team. Oops, looks like Miss Pig spilled BBQ sauce on her apron.
  • Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion Trophies
  • Bug House Smokers BBQ Team, 6th Pork Ribs, 4th Brisket.
  • Kids’ Hamburger Challenge winners!
  • Ist Place Pork – Shake ‘N Bake BBQ
  • Bill Arnold & Blues Hogg BBQ Team – 6th place Chicken and 3rd place Pork
  • 1st Place Ribs – Big Boots BBQ
  • Bill Arnold, Blues Hog BBQ Team & Tim of Shake ‘N Bake BBQ
  • 1st Place Anything Butt – Norco Pride BBQ
  • Shiny Smokers!
  • T-Mac Smokin’ BBQ Team’s rig. 2nd place Brisket, 10th place Pork and 7th Overall.
  • Grand Champion – Hickory Stick BBQ Team
  • Norco Pride BBQ Team giving out samples of pulled pork, brisket and mint juleps. That’s how you please a crowd!
  • Norco Pride BBQ Team
  • Big Wigs BBQ Team having fun! 9th in Chicken.
  • Big Wigs BBQ Team handing out People’s Choice samples.
  • La Pasadita BBQ Team from Texas, 4th in Pork.
  • Rusty Pig BBQ Team – 1st Place Brisket
  • Gothic Town Grillers from Eldon, IA, 3rd in Brisket.
  • Meat Me in St. Louis BBQ Team in their team shirts.
  • Outlaw Hawgs BBQ Team, 2nd in Chicken.
  • Blues Hog BBQ Team featuring Legendary Pit Master Bill Arnold, 6th Chicken, 3rd Pork.
  • Bloody Marys, great way to start a bbq competition!
  • Smoke ‘M All St. Louis BBQ Team – 10th place brisket.
  • Oklahoma Joe’s Serious Que BBQ Team – 6th place overall.
  • BYO Grill BBQ Team, 9th Pork Ribs, 2nd Pork, 4th Brisket, 13th Overall.
  • Schaefer BBQ Team
  • Saturday morning, getting ready for the day.
  • Meat Me in St. Louis BBQ Team
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Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown

Huntsville, TX
February 15 & 16, 2019

Pick-up trucks, longhorn steer skulls, and BBQ smokers; why we must be in Texas!

“Shotgun Fred” Pirkle passed away from ALS on March 9, 2012. Before passing, he asked several old friends to make sure that a KCBS sanctioned BBQ Cook-Off took place in Huntsville, Texas each year to raise scholarship funds to be added to his Scholarship Endowment for Sam Houston State University.

Ben Pruitt, one of those ol’ friends and the Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown organizer, ensured the legacy continued at the Huntsville Fairgrounds. Thirty-three teams competed for Texas BBQ bragging rights, drawing Master Series teams from as far away as Australia and Alberta, Canada!

Grand Champion went to Rio Valley Meats BBQ, with a walloping 704.5! Tiny E BBQ won Reserve GC scoring a 699.9. Boomerang BBQ, Iowa Smoky D’s BBQ, and Clark Crew BBQ were other notables in the top ten.

  • Grand Champions! Rio Valley Meats BBQ scored a 700 pin with a 704.4 score.
  • Reserve Grand Champion, Tiny E BBQ, with a 699.9 score.

We loved the stories from “behind the scenes” … such as the Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown awards created by Ben Pruitt, a talented woodworker. The wooden plaques for top finishers had a one-piece arrow through the ‘bullseye’ on the plaque. Everyone asked how he did it, his response, “you give me the secret to your BBQ, and I’ll tell you how I did it” … so, it remains a mystery! Note the RGC trophy; just off the mark!

  • Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Trophies… guess which one is which!
  • Wood maker, Ben Pruitt, constructed these one-of-a-kind trophies… how’d he get that one piece arrow through that little hole?!

The event brought out some newbies, including the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Frat Boys, from local Sam Houston State University sponsored by local rancher Scott Whitehead. Upon asking one of their multiple members why they were located so far from everyone else, his response was, “it’s best for everybody.” Fun and BBQ, a great combo! These guys could be tomorrows GC’s!

  • Scott Whitehead, Frat Boys BBQ sponsor, and coach.
  • Frat Boys BBQ… choose a site way far away from the rest of the teams! Can you say ‘Party Time?’

Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown is an excellent event with friendly folks at a great venue hosted by Huntsville, TX! This event has room to grow and the right people to make it happen! BBQ Teams should consider entering this event in the future.

  • The Australian BBQ Team! From Down Under to The Lone Star State!
  • Boomerang BBQ with Floyd, their official mascot!
  • Pitmasters at decision time!
  • That final check before turn in lead to Grand Champion!
  • A smoker that doubles as a movable tank?! That’s WarPig BBQ!
  • ’nuff said!
  • Brody came along to the comp with the Frat Boys BBQ Team, Sigma Chi.
  • Have Pitmaker will Travel!
  • Old Buzzard Cookers
  • The name pretty much sums it up!
  • Alberta, Canada Smella Q… came to take on Texas’ best!
  • La Pasadita BBQ Team.
  • BBQ Teams deck out their rigs in fun ways!
  • Did you know that dessert is sometimes a category to judge???
  • Yum!!!
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Silver Lake Apple & BBQ Festival, Mears, MI

Have you ever seen 150’ high dunes? How about apple orchards and asparagus fields covering the countryside? And that’s just getting to Silver Lake, MI for the Apple BBQ Festival. The perfect weather accompanied a Classic Car/OVR and Dune Buggy Show, craft artists, live music, and everything/anything apple! A 5K Apple-a-Day race along with an Apple Pie contest brought additional weekend competitions for this event situated on Silver Lake, MI next to the Big Lake!

So, while the granddaddy BBQ event, The American Royal, was happening in Kansas City, this event showed that the Midwest folks know how to ‘Que too with Bad Habit BBQ earning the prized 180 on Pork Ribs! 48 teams vied for Grand Champion honors with the top points going to Big “E” BBQ with a 694.3 score and Reserve Grand Champion awarded to Big Brothers BBQ coming in at 689.7.

In the Shade Tree Competition, Up In Smoke BBQ won the Chicken category and Rub A Dub Grub won Pork Ribs during the Friday event.

Silver Lake is always one of our favorite’s venues even though it’s on the tail end of the Summer Season. There are plenty of craft beer breweries, hiking, incredible dunes (take a ride with Mac Dunes Buggy Rides to get a real feel of how vast the sand dunes are), and one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, Lake Michigan.  Silver Lake State Park is a short walking distance to the festival as well as several cabins. We bet that if you came to the area, it would be on your list of annual places to visit for many years to come!

 

Mike and Marcia

 

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PigMania – Lebanon, OH Miami Valley Gaming

PigMania Lebanon was the fourth & final event in the PigMania Master Series BBQ Competitions & Festivals. PigMania Events take place in Hilliard, Shelby, Lima, and Lebanon, Ohio. Organizers Dan & Ann Hurst are two of the most gracious hosts we’ve come across. Miami Valley Gaming opened its doors for this KCBS State Championship. Of the 46 Professional Competition BBQ teams that competed, three of them are among the top KCBS teams in the country.

This event is unique in that all 46 cook teams along with the vendors were set up on the harness track. Next to the harness track in a grassy area was a terrific bandstand with tables for spectators to sit and listen to music while enjoying their food and beverages. And what could be better than eating BBQ, enjoying live music, drinking local beers, and then when the competition is over, going into the casino to try your luck on a few slot machines?

 

 

Among the teams that competed was Smokin Triggers, led by famed pitmaster Johnny Trigg. PigMania honored Johnny with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to competition BBQ. As always Johnny was cordial and made himself available to cook teams and fans alike!

 

 

It’s rare for a team to earn a perfect score of 180 in a category, but believe it, or not two perfect scores of 180 occurred at PigMania!  Bo B Q BBQ took First Place in Pork Ribs with a 180, and Extra Mile BBQ maxed out in Pork category. Congrats to both teams!

Bo B Q BBQ with their First Place trophy in Pork Ribs with a 180 score!

Extra Mile BBQ, perfect score of 180 in Pork!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PigMania’s Persistent PitMaster Award announced at PigMania Lebanon went to Grey Street BBQ. The team received the soon-to-be famed  PigMania Championship Belt by generating the most points during all four PigMania competitions!  Well Done!

Grey Street BBQ earned  PigMania’s 2018 Persistent PitMaster Award.

Hats off to Slippery Pete’s BBQ for claiming Grand Champion with an astounding 704.6 score followed by Smoke Me Silly as the Reserve Grand Champion with a 697.7. Good job racking up those points!

Grand Champion Slippery Petes BBQ and Reserve Grand Champion Smoke Me Silly.

A highlight of PigMania at least from the judges’ point of view was the Dessert competition. Just take a look at a few of the entries below! First Place went to Continental Barbeque Co., followed by Bo B Q BBQ and Historic BBQ. We’re not sure which entries below earned the top awards, but we wouldn’t turn any of them down, just saying!

 

Despite the torrential downpour that began shortly after the last turn-in, PigMania Lebanon was a huge success. Coordinators Dan and Ann Hurst know how to organize an excellent competition. Host Miami Valley Gaming and Racing offered a first-class venue for a BBQ competition with spectacular entertainment, thank you for having us! PigMania was a fun event for all.

Mike and Marcia

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Ribberfest BBQ & Blues- Madison, IN

The Ribberfest BBQ & Blues, which takes place in Madison, IN on the banks of the Ohio River, has it all! We arrived Thursday for the BBQ Sunset Cruise on the Ohio River with cook teams, organizers, and judges for a light Dinner, beverages, and live music. Friday through Sunday the Queen City Clipper, out of Cincinnati, is available for the general public to enjoy a cruise.

Queen City Riverboat, Clipper

The BBQ teams set up along the Ohio River for a never dull view of life on the river. The teams are very welcoming to anyone walking the venue to take in the ambiance of a bbq competition. Friday evening several cook teams took part in a “pitch in” dinner, complete with all the fixings.

Saturday 54 teams vied for top honors. Grand Champion went to The American Dream BBQ Team from Oklahoma with a 701.7 score and 1st place in pork.  Reserve Grand Champion went to Grey Street BBQ with a 699.4. Smoke Freaks BBQ took first place in pork ribs and was the third overall team.

Ribberfest Grand Champion The American Dream BBQ Team

In addition to the regular categories in the BBQ competition, Ribberfest includes Anything Butt and Dessert categories. Butts-n-Racks BBQ took 1st in Anything Butt with a 180 score. The Dessert category had a 5-way tie with Red Hot Butcher Shop, Charcoal & More, Squealers Award Winning Barbeque, Meat Misters, and WEQ4U all scoring 180! The Gattopuin, an award for the team that exhibits the best hospitality, friendliness, humor, and love of BBQ is voted on by an unknown panel of judges. This year’s honoree was Smoke Freaks for the second year in a row!

But wait there’s more! In addition to the Shade Tree BBQ Competition (backyard/amateur), there are lots of other things to see and do; a 5K Ribberrun & Bike Ride, KidsQue, Pigmania (concrete pig painting contest),

Pigmania

Piglet Pen (inflatables and games for the kids), and Pig Toss (Cornhole Tournament). This event also hosts one of the top Blue Festivals in the region. We enjoyed two days of fantastic blues with some of the top names in the business. This year’s headliners were Walter Trout and Ronnie Baker Brooks. Previous year headliners have been Los Lobos, The Taj Mahal Trio, Keb’ Mo’ and Buddy Guy.

Madison, IN,  is named a Stellar Community Designee and includes one of the largest Historic Landmark Districts in the US. Stellar communities actively work on community and economic projects and events to improve the quality of life in their city.  The organizers of Ribberfest indeed demonstrated their love of Madison the way they went out of their way to engage local volunteers and support both cook teams and judges alike.

Always fun to be had at the competitions

Whoo-hoo, get me to the turn-in station on time!

Madison volunteers shuttle teams to the turn-in station with golf carts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Madison, for another fun and successful competition. We also want to thank the Smoke Freaks for inducting RVBBQTrail into the Lucky Lighter League; we’re true believers! 

Can’t wait to return next year!

Mike & Marcia

Lucky Lighter League, we believe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Heritage Days BBQ Showdown – Belvidere, IL June June 22 – 24

The 2018 Heritage Days BBQ Showdown 2-day competition brought out the best in professional BBQ! On Day 1 fifty-one Competition BBQ Teams convened upon the Boone County Fairgrounds in Belvidere, Il, a superb venue for a BBQ comp! At least six of those teams are the top professional teams in the US, vying for KCBS Team of the Year.  To keep up with KCBS Team of the Year standings click here.

A Scottish Heavy Olympics Tournament participant.

Event organizers Danny & Chris along with their team held a terrific event that was welcoming and supportive of the needs of professional BBQ’rs and judges alike! And where else can one go to a BBQ competition and witness authentic Celtic games with The Scottish Heavy Olympics Tournament?! It was complete with kilts, sheaf tossing (using a pitchfork!), caber toss (log flipping), hammer throw and more. You can learn more about the sport in this article. For us regular folks who are not into heavy duty weight training, there was a Bags Tournament.

 

Day 1

After the threat of rain subsided on Saturday, the stars came out, that’s BBQ stars, with Shake ‘N Bake taking Grand Champion scoring 693.1, followed by Rod Gray’s Pellet Envy for Reserve Champion with a 692.0.  Dirt Road was third overall for the second week in a row!

Pellet Envy Reserve Champion, Day 1.

Shake N’ Bake, Grand Champion Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2

Hats off to the forty-four BBQ teams competing on Sunday, Day 2.  As a pro BBQ cook I’ve never done a double competition, nor have I as a judge. As a judge it was challenging so I can only imagine what it was like for the cook teams! That said experienced pros know how to compete as evidenced by Gettin’ Basted taking home the Grand Champion award with a 691.9 score followed by Reserve Champion ONE2BBQ with a 688.5.  Midnight Burn, all the way from North Carolina, was third overall.

Gettin’ Basted, Grand Champion, Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2.

One2BBQ, Reserve Champion Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times teams set up next to each other, it’s more fun that way! Smoke Freaks and Stress Relief BBQ teams.

 

The close bond that Competition BBQ teams share was evident at this event. Even though teams are there to compete, they are very supportive of one another. Friday night’s mood was fun and lively with teams greeting each other, enjoying libations and music together. During Saturday’s competition, it was all business as they cooked, but words of ‘good luck’ to each other and pats on the back were everywhere. The Awards Presentations was upbeat with big rounds of applause, hoots, and hollers for each team that got a call (placed in the top ten of each category). Saturday night it was time to relax and share a meal with each other, with teams contributing to the potluck table. Now that’s what makes bbq competition fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times teams set up next to each other, it’s more fun that way! Smoke Freaks and Stress Relief BBQ teams.

 

 

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Central Plains Ribfest – Holdrege, NE June 15 & 16

Heading East from Rocky Mountain National Park en route to Holdrege, NE one notices the change in terrain from mountains, to rolling hills, then to the lush green farmland of Nebraska. This town with a population of 5,500 folks hosted the Central Plains Ribfest in conjunction with Swedish Days which brought competitors from six states.

2018 Central Plains Ribfest, Holdrege, NE.
Local High School Student rides his Unicycle in the Centra Plains Ribfest parade.

A busy weekend with a Steak Association Cookoff  (SCA) steak cook-off, a parade, classic car show, People’s Choice BBQ contest, and a sauce competition. Holdrege is small town America with a big heart and why we love traveling for BBQ competitions.

2018 Central Plains Ribfest, Holdrege, NE.
Parade in Holdrege, NE before the Central Plains Ribfest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smokin K – NE took home Grand Champion honors with a 695.4 score and Butcher BBQ earning the Reserve Grand Champion with a 694.8.  Dirt Road BBQ was third overall. Both Butcher BBQ and Dirt Road BBQ are in the top ten ranking for KCBS Team of the Year! The Holdrege Chamber of Commerce did a terrific job hosting the Ribfest. We enjoyed meeting the cooks, judges, and folks on the street, they were all so welcoming!

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Horse Town Brew & Que Festival 2018

Norco, CA

Horse Town USA! Being from KY, you’d think I’ve seen all things equine, but not even close! Upon entering Norco, one might notice the lack of sidewalks, that’s because bridle paths run both sides of the road. Hitching posts are located around town for folks to tie up their horses. Yes, people ride horses from home to town! There are western-themed restaurants, saloons, stores for all equine needs, western wear shops and antique and vintage shops in Norco. We had dinner at the Saddle-Sore Saloon, a honkytonk from way back! Most Norco businesses support equine activities.

The BBQ competition took place at the George Ingalls Equine Center, a world-class facility with the roof covered arenas to house the whole bbq affair. The event included 57 pro cook teams, 12 backyard teams, Kids-Que, food vendors, and a stage.

The Norco BBQ Competition is all under roof in the arena at George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center, Norco, CA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Champion – Toot & Stinky’s Cali-Q

 

Toot & Stinky’s Cali-Q took home Grand Champion honors with a 702.3 score. For those who don’t know, a score above 700 is noteworthy! The Reserve Champion was Bar-B-Q-2Go.

 

If you are a horse lover, then Norco, CA is for you!

 

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Best Dam BBQ Challenge 2018

Boulder City, NV, Memorial Day Weekend

The Best Dam BBQ Challenge is pure Americana, and one dam good BBQ event! Sorry for the pun but couldn’t resist! Located at the city center with live music, great food, and classic cars… over 200! This is a family-friendly event with lots of activities for the kids, great food, and live music.

Squat & Gobble BBQ took home Grand Champion honors with Pappy Q as the Reserve. The Rotary Club is the sponsor of Best Dam BBQ Challenge with proceeds going to their charitable non-profit events.

Boulder City is an oasis in the desert with restaurants and shops in a small town setting. The folks of Boulder City are welcoming and this is definitely a dog-friendly town. Suggest you might want to take a short drive to Boulder City during your next Vegas engagement for a relaxing afternoon!

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Whistlestop BBQ Weekend – May 5, 2018

…finally getting caught up with a reliable Wi-Fi source

Sixty-two pro BBQ teams competed for over $20,000 in prize money at the Whistle Stop & Rocket City BBQ competition in Huntsville, AL. Smoke Me Silly took Grand Champion with a 703.9 score! 64 teams competed for the Backyard or amateur championship. Huntsville area museums received all proceeds from the BBQ event.

One thing became abundantly clear to me regarding this train-themed BBQ event; the folks of Alabama know how to throw a party and do a tailgate! Friday evening was a big party, but when the music stopped, things got real for championship BBQ.

  • Lobster Boil at the BBQ Comp!
  • Live entertainment
  • U.S. Army MWR
  • BOOB-B-Q BBQ Team
  • Box preparation
  • Presentation to judges
  • Brisket Judging Plate
  • Judges are serious about their role in a BBQ Competition