Music City BBQ festival

This was the first ever Music City BBQ festival. Overall I thought the set-up and the event had a lot of potential for a super event. We were located on 1st avenue at Riverfront Park. They had two events actual happening a musical festival and a bbq festival. They charged $10 to enter the event for the music but I don't think they really had anyone worth paying $10 dollars ( anyway that is what all of the event guest were saying) The guest felt they paid $10 dollars for the BBQ event. I think if next year they have it free to the public or $1 or 2 then I think this event will be well received. They actually just had too many things happening.. But I will say it was actual very well organized.

We have always in the past done well when competing in Nashville. Our first call happen in CMA Fanfest bbq contest. So, we hoped for at least one call but we knew they were only calling top 5 places and we were competing against some of the top teams in MBN and KCBS.

The strangest thing happen we got two top 5 calls -- 4th in Pork and 5th in brisket. We finished 9th overall. I can't explain how excited I was for Page and all of my team members. My only goal this year was finish one event in the top 15 and one top 5 in any category. I reflected on how well everything has went for us over the last 1 1/2 year. Two years ago I had never cooked on charcoal and never smoked in charcoal smoker. I had only cooked gourmet style or used a gas grill.

Thanks to everyone that has supported us over the last two years....

Murray KY BBQ contest July 3rd and 4th

We had a great time in Murray KY and Murray had 26 Pro BBQ teams which made it a qualifier ( more to this story later). So, This is the first time that we have taken the family with us on a BBQ trip. My parents stayed at a RV park about 3 miles from the contest. They arrived on Thursday and scoped out the location for us. I left Franklin at 7:00 am Friday morning with my wife and child. Jay left Searcy Ark about 6:30 Friday morning and Page left Franklin around 8:00 am Friday morning with the whole family in tow.

I had no problems with travel -- the horse trailer pulled great even over some very small bridges going over Kentucky Lake and Cumberland River. I picked up my Dad and he drove us downtown and we found our spot across from Smokey Mountain Smokers, Swiggin Pig and beside ShadeTree Cooks and Lets get Drunkn and Q. I started setting up with my dad and wife prior to the rest of the team arriving ( this didn't work so well because I wanted to get the meat prepared and my wife wanted to set-up site first). Needless to say it was great to have everyone arrive and my wife and dad left so we could finish site up. Our families head to the Hotel and we caught-up with Barry of Swiggin Pig and got to meet some new teams. We also got to talk with Jim and Terry of previous TN Trio. They are cooking under Becky Sue BBQ team now.

So, we go to the cooks meeting at 4:30 and we find out that we don't have but 24 teams so this will not be a qualifier. So, After the meeting I spoke with Jim and Terry since Terry had his own cooker and they had plenty meat ---they split to give us 25 teams. I had also told them if they could find another team I had an extra butt and brisket that they could be cooked. Later that night they found a team that would cook so they took the brisket and butt.

We had a great dinner with the whole families --I cooked Hamburgers (homemade) and hot dogs on the gas grill that was attached to the trailer of Becky Sues BBQ team. We also celebrated Lindy's Birthday with some cake.

This would have been a great contest except for the JACK (picture above)-- I passed out at 2:30am - and didnt recover until about 10am.

So here are the results:
Chicken 23 out of 26
Ribs 25 out of 26
Pork 12 out of 26
Brisket 14 out of 26
My donate meat finished
Pork 23 out of 26
brisket 8 out of 26

Great Event ---- Loved the downtown and courthouse

Results from Pulaski Sundrop Country BBQ Contest

Overall 19 out of 29
Chicken 27 out of 29
Ribs 20 out of 29
Pork 23 out of 29
Brisket 1 out 29


Reflecting on Pulaski:

This is really the completion of our first year of competing. After one year we have Placed in Ribs 2nd out of 98 teams, Pork 7th out of 48 teams, and Brisket 1st out of 29 teams. So, the only meat that we haven't placed in is chicken but we have scored ok but never placed. I think we finally have a chicken product that will allow us to place very soon.

I don't think I can explain how extremely proud I'm of my team being able to compete on the professional level within 7 competitions. I think everyone will see the major difference between the boxes in this years event compared to last year.

By the way it rained!!!!!!!!!!!!

Picture of our boxes from CMT BBQ

I have displayed all of our Boxes from the CMT BBQ contest. We didn't sauce any meats at this competition. We turned in all meats dry. We scored the best overall at this event but I think that is because we went back to the way I have been cooking all winter.