Bubba Grills Wins GBA State Championship

The Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) held its annual State Championship contest at the Deep Roots Festival in historic, downtown Milledgeville.   Thirty two teams put their best efforts forward to take home a share of the $11,000 purse.  Stumps Smokers sponsored an additional $1500 award to the overall GBA State Champion.  Getting that coveted last call of the day as Deep Roots Festival Grand Champion and the GBA State Champion was Lonnie Smith and team Bubba Grills.

In the GBA, the team with the highest cumulative score across the three categories in the preliminary rounds is named the Reserve Grand Champion. CaJenn Smokin’ Que, led by pitmaster Billy Jennings, made finals in Pulled Pork along with 7th place in Loin and 6th place in Ribs to win the Reserve Grand Champion award.

Teams had to be on their “A” game right off the bat.  The first category turned in is Pork Loin and the entry had to be close to perfect to advance to the finals round. In fact, the top 3 teams in the preliminary round all scored a 599.7 out of a possible 600.  After the Loin Finals entries were scored by the panel of finals judges; Tim Coleman and his Real South BBQ  team took top honors. We Want Q was the runner-up with 92 BBQ finishing in third place. Daddy O’s BBQ took 4th place; Smokin the Good Stuff took 5th and Southern Hogs took 6th place.  Cajenn Smokin’ Que won the tiebreaker over Bubba Grills for 7th place. Rescue Smokers claimed 9th place and Smokin’ 42 BBQ claimed 10th place.

Captain Jack’s Freedom BBQ Team, Jack & Sandy Fallin, won the Pulled Pork category.  Cajenn Smokin’ Que got the 2nd place call. Real South BBQ walked for the second time by taking 3rd place. Raging Smoke BBQ grabbed 4th place.  By just 0.3 of a point, 5 O’Clock Somewhere edged Dixe Que for 5th.  Johnson Boys BBQ took home the 7th place award with Nature Boy BBQ grabbing 8th place.  Smokin’ 42 BBQ and Rescue Smokers swapped placed this time with Smokin 42 BBQ in 9th and Rescue Smokers in 10th.

Bubba Grills State Championship Ribs won the final category of the day.  Daddy O’s BBQ was 2nd with Simply Que in third place. Just Blowing Smoke took 4th place followed by Party Porkers in 5th and Cajenn Smokin’ Que in 6th place. Rescue Smokers took 7th place by 0.5 of a point over Captain Jack’s Freedom BBQ Team.  Smokin’ 42 BBQ and Raging Smoke BBQ rounded out the top 10.

The GBA wants to thank the city of Milledgeville for rolling out the red carpet once again all the GBA teams & judges.  The Deep Roots Festival is one of the top festivals in the state of Georgia.  Next the GBA heads to Wrightsville for the first time for Johnson County Wiggle & Twist on Halloweeen weekend.

1st, 2nd & 3rd place scores in each category are Final Round scores. All other scores are from preliminary rounds.