Continue reading »]]> The Team of the Year (TOTY) have been updated thru Hazlehurst and there is a tie atop the standings. D.W.’s Kountry Cookers strong showing in Hazlehurst brought them into a first place tie with Jack’s New South.  The race will go down to the wire as there are just two contests remaining in this season’s TOTY competition — GBA Goin’ Coastal in Fernandina Beach on June 8-9 and Plains Pig Pickin’ on June 29-30.

Continue reading »]]> Sauced Hogs Smoke Shack take first Grand at 3rd Annual Hazlehurst BBQ Fest.

Grand Champions - Sauced Hogs Smoke Shack

With first place finishes in both Pork and Ribs, Sauced Hogs Smoke Shack captured their first Grand Championship at the 3rd Annual Hazlehurst BBQ Fest.  D.W.’s Kountry Cookers took home the Reserve Grand Championship.

Reserve Grand Champions - D.W.'s Kountry Cookers

Jack’s New South edged out Legal Smoke on the tiebreaker to take first place in Pork Loin.  More details coming soon.

1st Place Loin - Jacks New South

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Rule Clarification

The Georgia Barbecue Association Competition Committee met following the contest in Jackson this past weekend.  The Committee issued this clarification regarding qualifying for the Grand Championship in a contest.  A cook team does NOT have to enter all three categories to qualify for the Grand Championship. The highest scoring entry among the three first place finalists will be declared Grand Champion regardless of how many categories that team entered.

This rule is NOT in effect for the Hazlehurst and Fernandina contests. Contest applications were applications were approved and published stating that a team must enter all three categories to qualify for Grand Champion before the Competition Committee issued the clarification of this rule.

Continue reading »]]> Bubba Grills takes GBA Grand at Jackson —-

In the first ever dual GBA-MBN contest at Smokin’ Pork N Butts at Jackson, GA; Bubba Grills captured the Grand Championship of the GBA contest.  Head Cook Lonnie Smith & crew turned in a near perfect (599.7 score) in pulled pork finals to take the final call of the day. It took that near perfect entry to hold off D.W.’s Kountry Cookers who captured first place in both ribs & pork loin with identical 599.1 scores. Smoke Shack was consistent across all three categories to take home the Reserve Grand Championship.

As noted above. the Wright family of D.W.’s Kountry Cookers took first place in pork loin. Jack’s New South was runner up with HSoly Smokers taking third place. Fletchers Finest and Bubba Grills rounded out the top five.  In pulled pork, Bubba Grills topped the field of 31 teams. Dixe Q followed in second place. Jurrasic Pork took third place with Smokin Grill BBQ in fourth and Smoke Shack in fourth.  D.W.’s Kountry Cookers found themselves in the winner’s circle once again in ribs with Jack’s New South again the runner up. Smoke Shack claimed third place.   Sauced Hog Smoke Shack and Holy Smokers tied for fourth place. After running thru all the tiebreakers, the two team were still deadlocked and shared the fourth place award.

The next GBA event is the 3rd Annual Hazlehurst BBQ Fest on May 4-5. Check the contest page for cook team & judge’s applications.

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Contest Calendar Updated

A new contest has been added to the GBA schedule. The Blairsville Hog Jam will be held on October 12-13. 2012.

Also, dates have been confirmed for the following contests for the remainder of the 2012 calendar year:

Smokin’ Pork & Butts – Jackson, GA – April 13-14, 2012   Dual GBA/MBN contest (new contest)
3rd Annual Hazlehurst BBQ Fest – Hazlehurst, GA – May 4-5, 2012
GBA Goin’ Coastal – Fernandia Beach, FL – June 8-9, 2012 (new contest)
Plains Pig Pickin’ – Plains, GA – June 29-30, 2012
Comsouth Hambone Jam – Ft Valley, GA – Sept 7-8, 2012 ** GBA State Championships
Sumner Egg Festival BBQ Bash – Sumner, GA – Sept 14-15, 2012
3rd Annual Fall Line BBQ Contest – Gordon, GA – Oct  5-6, 2012
Blairsville Hog Jame – Blairsville, GA – Oct 12-13, 2012 (new contest)
6th Annual Tennille BBQ Blast – Tennille, GA  Oct 19-20, 2012
Hawkinsville Harvest Fest Pigs & Produce – Hawkinsville, GA – Oct 26-27, 2012 (new contest)

Continue reading »]]> Jack’s Old South Smokers to Sponsor GBA Championship

Jack’s Old South Smokers is proud to sponsor the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) State Championship. The GBA State Championship is held each year in September at the Hambone Jam in Fort Valley, GA.  The Grand Champion of the event will be presented with a 36″ semi-insulated smoker (picuted below) courtesy of Jack’s Old South Smokers.

For more information on Jack’s Old South Smokers, call 912-230-0314 or email jacksoldsouthsmokers@yahoo.com

Continue reading »]]> From President Harry Faircloth

Congratulations to Bethel Smokers on the GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP and to Reserve Champs Smokin’ 42 BBQ at  THE PIGS and WINGS in Perry Gerorgia

To all of you that participated in this past week-ends “Pigs and Wings” contest in Perry Georgia,  Thank you for making Audrey’s event such a success.  Last count we had 58 cook teams from Georgia, Florida, Alabama and I understand South Carolina.  WOW!

The weather tried not to cooperate but you BBQ”ers didn’t let it stand in your way.  I saw a lot of cooperation between cook teams helping out with tarps, helping with ideas and suggestions to some of the newer cook teams.  All of you owe yourself a hand.

We had some newly trained judges that did a super job,  It looks like Pam & Jimmy Nelms and Mr Kay Saville did a good job at the last training class.

If any of you that participated as a judge or cook team have comments or suggestions that would help the GBA do a better job or if you have any comments about the event that would help “Pigs and Wings” do a better job please e-mail me at hlfcloth@bellsouth.net.

I do believe that Audrey and Danny have thrown down the gaunlet to everyone that “Pigs and Wings” are not to be taken lightly.  Thanks to everyone that helped out and to all of the sponsors I believe you got your money’s worth.

Harry Faircloth

Continue reading »]]> Bethel Smokers Flies High at Pigs & Wings

Perry, GA —  Mr Joe Wright of Bethel Smokers won his first Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) Grand Championship at Pigs & Wings on Februrary 26, 2012.   The Reserve Grand Championship went to Smokin’ 42 BBQ.  Congratulations to both these teams. More details and full results will be posted soon.

Bethel Smokers Grand Champion

Reserve Grand Champions Smokin 42 BBQ

Continue reading »]]> Two New Contests Announced — The Georgia Barbecue Association is proud to announce two new events on its competition calendar.

The “GBA is Goin’ Coastal” cookoff will be held on beautiful Fernandina Beach at Central Park on June 8-9, 2012.  For the first time ever, the GBA is crossing the border and heading to the Sunshine State. The City of Fernandina Beach and the Recreation Dept. invite all GBA members to come be a part of this historic event.  Please see the Contest Page for cook team application.

The GBA is returning to Hawkinsville in the fall on 2012 for the Hawkinsville Harvest Fest — Pigs & Produce on October 26-27, 2012.  The Association is proud to back in this great city and is looking forward to another outstanding contest. Details and applications will be posted soon on the Contest page.

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Grand Champion Holy Smokes

Blackshear, GA – Can you smell what Holy Smokes is cooking?  At the Pierce Co. Pig Pickin’, it smelled like perfection as Gary & Dionn Lanton tallied a perfect 600 score in Pork Loin Finals to claim the Grand Championship & the unique title belt trophy.   D.W.’s Kountry Cookers and Jack’s New South tied for the highest cumulative score from the preliminary rounds.  The teams were still tied after the first tiebreaker, the total of taste scores from the three categories. On the second tiebreaker, total of overall impression scores, D.W.’s Kountry Cookers had a 1 point advantage and took home the Reserve Grand Championship.

Reserve Grand Champion D.W.'s Kountry Cookers

The perfect 600 score gave Holy Smokes first in Pork Loin. D.W.’s Kountry Cookers came in second. Holy Smokers & Jack’s New South finished third & fourth respectively. Sauced Hogs Smoke Shack edged out The Pampered Pig for fifth place after going to the third tiebreaker, the most number of 10′s awarded in the category.

In Pork, D.W.’s Kountry Cookers tallied a near perfect 599.1 score to capture the first place trophy. Jack’s New South was second with Smokin’ AJ’s in third. The Pampered Pig, cooking in their first GBA contest , continued their strong showing claiming fourth place.  There was also a tie for fifth place in Pork with Fat Boys Smoking BBQ edging out Sauced Hog Smoke Shack on the second tiebreaker.

First Place Ribs Jack's New South

Jack’s New South also had a near perfect score of 599.1 to win the Ribs category with Rescue Smokers as runner-up. Bethel Smokers, D.W.s Kountry Cookers & Sunset Smokers rounded out the top five.