Lang BBQ Smokers Tops Tough Field at Fire Ant Festival BBQ Bash

Lang BBQ Smokers Tops Tough Field at Fire Ant Festival BBQ Bash

Virtually all of the top teams in the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) along with several heavy hitters from Florida made their way to Ashburn, GA for the 2016 edition of the Fire Ant Festival BBQ Bash.   The 35 teams had to contend with off and on rain throughout the weekend. Still,  the judges had to work really hard as the ‘Que was outstanding.  It was the finals round judges, however, who had the toughest (& best) job of the day; judging the top three entries in each category.

The Fire Ant Festival has become known for having among the biggest trophies in all of BBQ.  The chain saw carved awards for Grand, Reserve and 1st place in each category each topped 100 lbs.

When it came time for the last call of the day, only two teams were still in the hunt for the Grand Championship.  Thomas Henry of Budmeisters BBQ had won both the Loin & Pulled Pork categories.  Lang BBQ Smokers, led by Darryl Strickland, was the top team in Ribs.  The final tally gave the edge to Ribs and Lang BBQ Smokers took home the Grand Championship trophy & a $2500 check.

Grand Champion – Lang BBQ Smokers

Bull Rush BBQ, Pitmaster Bryan Mroczka,  took 4th place in both Loin & Ribs plus 8th in Pulled Pork to accumulate the highest cumulative score in the preliminary rounds and the Reserve Grand Championship.

Reserve Grand Champion – Bull Rush BBQ

1st Loin – Budmiestes BBQ

Budmeisters topped the field in Loin.  Ashburn’s own Raymond Poore of REAL-Licious Q took 2nd with CaJenn Smokin Que coming in 3rd place. CaJenn, led by Billy Jennings,  had a perfect 600 score in the Loin preliminaries.  Bull Rush BBQ grabbed 4th place followed by Real South BBQ in 6th and Hard Rock Hill BBQ in 7th place. Eighth place went to Killer Swine BBQ in a tiebreaker over Smokin 42 BBQ Tenth place went to Rescue Smokers.

1st Pulled Pork – Budmeisters BBQ

In Pulled Pork, it was once again Budmeisters BBQ getting to 1st place call.  Barbecue Crew was runner up with Fixin 2 Pork Q in 3rd place.  Real South BBQ earned the 4th place award.  Smokin 42 BBQ grabbed 5th place; Raging Smoke BBQ grabbed 6th and Bubba Grills took 7th place.   Bull Rush BBQ walked in 8th place.  Dixie Que edged Double D Cooking team by 0.3 of a point for 9th place.

Lang BBQ Smokers Grand Champion Ribs topped the category with Bubba Grills taking 2nd place and Rescue Smokers taking 3rd.  Bull Rush BBQ got their second call for 4th place.  Just Blowing Smoke won the tiebreaker over Hootie Q for 5th place. Fixin 2 Pork Q walked in 7th place. REAL-Licious Q edged Southern Tailgates for 8th place by .03 of a point. Barbecue Crew rounded out the top 10.

Brisket Challenge – Captain Jack’s Freedom BBQ Team

The contest held a special Brisket Challenge with 22 of the teams in the field participating.  Jack Fallin and Captain Jack’s Freedom BBQ Team notched a perfect 600 score to win the Brisket Challenge. They had to be perfect to win, because Lang BBQ Smokers took 2nd place with a score of 599.7.  Bull Rush BBQ added to their big day with a 3rd place finish. Raging Smoke BBQ took 4th place and Poverty Hill Smokers came in 5th place.

The GBA was very proud to be back at the Fire Ant Festival & thanks all the fantastic volunteers who worked extremely hard to keep everything flowing smoothly.  The GBA looks forward to being back in Ashburn in 2017.

Final Standings:  1st, 2nd & 3rd place scores are from finals rounds. All other scores are preliminary round scores.

Reserve Scores: Preliminary round scores only