Babes, BBQ, and Bluegrass Festival

Cartersville Babes, BBQ, and Blues Grand Champion Bayshore Porkers

Twenty–one professional BBQ teams traveled north of Atlanta to Cartersville, Georgia on September 25, 2021 for this first time GBA event.  It was a great mix of regular teams, the return of some old favorites, and several teams new to competitive BBQ or the GBA.  To make things even more interesting, this was the first of three Double Point events for the season where all Team of the Year points are doubled. 

Cartersville Babes, BBQ, and Blues Reserve Champions Peach Cost BBQ

Bayshore Porkers claimed their second Grand Championship of the season for their rib entry, along with $1,500 in cash and a trophy. Peach Coast BBQ took home $750 and a trophy as Reserve Grand Champions for the highest combined scores of the day after finishing 1st in loin, 7th in pork, and 6th in ribs.

Peach Coast BBQ came in first in Loin, and also had the only 600 of the day with their preliminary entry.  Flyin’ Pig Bar-B-Que finished second.  RBH finished third in their first professional BBQ contest.    

Johnson Boys and Girl finished first in pork, with Bite My Butt in second.  First time GBA team Pig Out BarBQ came in third.

Bayshore Porkers has finaled in Ribs in four of the first five contests this season, and this week was no exception as they won the category this week.  Hootie Q claimed second, while first time GBA team Blue Smoke was third.    

Full contest results can be found by clicking the links below.

 Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results   

All Reserve Scores    

The GBA schedule goes into overdrive with events four weeks in row starting with the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival in Tifton October 9 before moving on to the Firehouse BBQ Festival Donalsonville on October 16 for a Double Points event.  Then we come back to the GBA’s roots for the Smoke in the Valley contest at Fort Valley, Georgia for the final Double Points event of the season on October 23.  Finally, we go back north for the Red, White, & Blue (American Legion Post 45) contest, a first time event on October 30 in Canton organized by the local American Legion post.  Please check out these and all of our other upcoming events at https://www.bbqga.org/

Doc Holliday Festival 2021

Off The Chain, Doc Holliday Festival 2021 Grand Champions

Twenty-six professional BBQ teams returned to Griffin, Georgia on September 11, 2021 for the annual celebration of one of the city’s best-known citizens. This event is currently the longest continually running event on the Georgia Barbecue Association’s schedule.  Not only does this event have our biggest purse at over $13,000, but also some of the most unique and sought-after trophies in all of BBQ.  In addition to the BBQ contest, there was music, a historically accurate recreation of the “Shoot Out at the OK Corral,” and other activities throughout the event.  Finally, the winner of the event’s brisket category is official declared the Georgia State Brisket Champion as a result of a resolution passed by the Georgia State Legislature.  

Bayshore Porkers, Doc Holliday 2021 Reserve Champions

Off the Chain followed up their Grand Championship two weeks ago in Sylvester for loin by taking the title again in Griffin, but this time in the pork category.  As a result, they took home the $1,500 check and championship trophy for the single best entry of the day.  Not to be out done, Bayshore Porkers continued their impressive results by claiming the Reserve Championship for the highest cumulative scores for the day, and received a $1,000 check and trophy.  

Smokin the Good Stuff returned to form by again winning the loin category, followed by Off the ChainBite My Butt finished third, but also had the only 600 score of the day in their preliminary round. 

First place in pulled pork went to Off the Chain. 319Q was second, and Bayshore Porkers rounded out the top 3.

Bayshore Porkers stormed back to take first place in ribs, followed by Big Butts BBQ in second, and Shark Bite BBQ in third.   

In the Ancillary Brisket category, Flying Pig Bar-B-Que took the title.   Wright on Que finished second, and Rescue Smokers was third.

Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que, 2021 Georgia State Brisket Champion

Full contest results can be found by clicking the links below.

 Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results   

All Reserve Scores    

The GBA schedule really picks up now for the fall after some contests rescheduled their spring events.  We start with a Double Points event in Cartersville on September 25.  Then it is on to Tifton on October 9 to begin four consecutive weeks of contests.   The only two other Double Point events of the year are at Donalsonville on October 16 and Fort Valley on October 23.  We end October at a first time event in Canton designed as fundraiser for the local chapter of the VFW.  Please check out these and all of our other upcoming events at https://www.bbqga.org/

Sylvester Swine Festival 2021

Off The Chain – Sylvester Swine Festival 2021 Grand Champions

Twenty professional BBQ teams began a busy fall stretch for the Georgia Barbecue Association season in Sylvester, GA on August 21, 2021.  Even though this was the first BBQ contest in Sylvester sponsored by the city’s Main Street organization, they offered a total purse of $10,000 and the mayor handed out the awards.  The city also installed permanent power and water connections at the old Train Depot site in anticipation of hosting many more events in the future. 

Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que, Sylvester Swine Festival Reserve Champion

Off the Chain claimed the Grand Championship with their loin and took home $2,000 and a trophy.  Meanwhile, Flying Pig Bar-B-Que was the Reserve Champion and also received $2,000 and a trophy.

Off the Chain finished first in loin.  Flying Pig Bar-B-Que came in second after receiving a 600 in the preliminary round.  Bite My Butt was third in loin.   

In pork, Flying Pig Bar-B-Que came out on top, followed by Johnson Boys & Girl BBQ, and Bayshore Porkers.    

Hootie Q took first place in ribs.  3 Beards BBQ was second, with Shark Bite coming in third with the only other 600 score of the day in their preliminary round.   

Full contest results can be found by clicking the links below.

 Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results   

All Reserve Scores    

Next up on the GBA calendar is the annual Doc Holliday Festival in Griffin on September 11.  That is quickly followed by a first time contest in Cartersville on September 25.  Please check out these and all of our other upcoming events for at https://www.bbqga.org/

Ocilla Soulman BBQ Competition 2021

Ocilla 2021 Grand Champions

Twenty professional Georgia Barbecue Association teams gathered in Ocilla, Georgia on May 8, 2021 for the inaugural Soulman BBQ Competition.  Although Ocilla has long hosted Prather Fest to honor native son Dave Prather of the famous musical duo Sam & Dave, this was the first time a BBQ competition was added to the festivities. 

Ocilla 2021 Reserve Champions

Bayshore Porkers continued their impressive GBA run by claiming the Grand Championship, a $2,000 check, and a trophy for their winning rib entry in finals.  The Reserve Grand Championship, along with its $1,000 check and trophy, went to Posse BBQ for the highest cumulative scores in the preliminary round.

3 Beard BBQ was the winner of the loin category.  Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que walked for the second straight contest in loin in second place, and Kelvin’s BBQ rounded out the top three.

Posse BBQ finished first in pulled pork, followed by 319 Q and Peach Coast BBQ.

Bayshore Porkers had the best ribs of the day.  Bite My Butt BBQ finished second, and Johnson Boys & Girl BBQ was third.     

Full contest results can be found by clicking the links below.

 Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results   

All Reserve Scores    

The GBA is currently scheduled to enter a summer break before returning to action on August 21 in Sylvester, Georgia, and then heading into at least 10 sanctioned events in the fall of 2021.  Please keep up with all of the upcoming GBA events at https://www.bbqga.org/

Moultrie Moose Lodge 1158 BBQ Cook Off

Moultrie 2020 Grand
Moultrie 2020 Grand Champions

            The 8th annual BBQ Cook Off to benefit Moose Lodge 1158 was held in Moultrie, Georgia on December 5, 2020.   Weekend Porkers took home the title of Grand Championship, a trophy, and $2,000 in prize money for their winning rib entry.  Peach Coast BBQ was named Reserve Grand Champion and won $1,000 and a trophy after finishing 2nd in Loin, 4th in Pork, and 8th in Ribs.

Moultrie 2020 Reserve
Moultrie 2020 Reserve Champions

Budmeister won the Loin category, followed by Peach Coast BBQ, after they both scored 600s in the preliminary round.  Weekend Porkers finished in third.       

Weekend Porkers then surged to win both the Pulled Pork and Rib categories.  Budmeister finished second and Bite My Butt finished third in pulled pork. 

In Ribs, Hootie Q was second with the only other 600 in preliminaries of the day, and Off the Chain came in third. 

The full results for each category and reserve scores can be found at the following links:

Pro Loin, Pork, and Rib Results

Reserve Scores