Lisa Oneal

Mar 31 2026

2026-Fire Ant Festival-Off the Chain takes Grand Champion

The Fire Ant Festival is in the books! Congratulations to Off the Chain on winning back to back Grand Champions, and Big Baer’s BBQ for winning Reserve Champion. We had 9 different teams making finals. Congratulations to all who walked.

Grand Champion: Off the Chain – (Cooking with Off the Chain -accepting the award Ewa Belcastro)

Reserve Champion: Big Baer’s BBQ

Loin Results: 1st Place-Off the Chain; 2nd Place- Union Street BBQ; 3rd Place- Pig-EEE-licious

Pork Results: 1st Place- Shark Bite BBQ; 2nd Place-Bad Rooster BBQ; 3rd Place- The Look and The Cook

Rib Results: 1st Place- Rustic Que; 2nd Place- Big Baer’s BBQ; 3rd Place Grills Gone Wild

Chicken Results: 1st Place- Flaming Hogs BBQ; 2nd Place- Off the Chain; 3rd Place- Bad Rooster

Mar 31 2026

2026-IAW-Hawkinsville BBQ Cook-Off & Karaoke Contest-5 Teams competed

GBA BRINGS THE HEAT TO HAWKINSVILLE!

What a weekend at the Hawkinsville BBQ Cook-Off & Karaoke Contest! The Georgia BBQ Association rolled into the Harness Training Center ready to cook, laugh, and make memories—and that’s exactly what happened.

We may have only been five teams strong under the arena, but don’t let the numbers fool you… the flavor, camaraderie, and FUN were off the charts!

A huge shoutout to our host Aaron Colley for the hospitality and for inviting the GBA to enjoy the Arena! We are hoping to come back even stronger next year! If we do, you want to plan to be there!

And special appreciation to Brian Bond and Jim Dehne for keeping everything running smooth and steady all weekend long.

Chicken Wings Results: 1st Place- Free Smokes BBQ; 2nd Place- Smoke Ring BBQ; 3rd Place- J.Piggy’s BBQ

Pork Results: 1st Place Flaming Hogs BBQ; 2nd Place Free Smoke BBQ; 3rd Place J. Piggy’s BBQ

Brisket Results: 1st Place- Free Smoke BBQ; 2nd Place- Smokin’ AJ’s; 3rd Place- J. Piggy’s BBQ

Mar 16 2026

2026 Firehouse BBQ Festival-Grand Champion Off the Chain

The 2026 Firehouse BBQ Festival is in the books. Thank you to Keith Bowen and Torrie with the Donalsonville Downtown Development Authority for always hosting a great event and the awesome Fish Fry for the teams and judges on Friday night. If you have never cooked this event it is worth the drive.

Congratulations to all who got calls today. Grills Gone Wild triple finalled today and won Reserve Champion and the Grand Champion went to Off The Chain BBQ.

Reserve Champion Grills Gone Wild

Loin Results: 1st Place Off The Chain; 2nd Place Grills Gone Wild; 3rd Place The Look and The Cook

Pork Results: 1st Place Pig-EEE-licious; 2nd Place Rustic Que; 3rd Place Grills Gone Wild

Ribs Results: 1st Place Off The Chain; 2nd Place Grills Gone Wild; 3rd Place Sprat Boy Barbeque

Mar 16 2026

2026 Tifton Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival Grand Champion Rescue Smokers

The Georgia Barbecue Association had a fantastic time at Party in the Pines during the Tifton Rhythm & Ribs Festival! Our Contest Rep Team for the weekend was Greg Hoyt, Greg Sebastian, Lois Sebastian, and Warren Abrams, and they kept the smoke rolling and the competition running smoothly all day. A huge thanks to the City of Tifton and all who make this contest a success.

We had 32 Pro Teams competing with 9 different teams making the finals. Congratulations to Rescue Smokers on their back to back Grand Champion and to the Reserve Champion The Look and the Cook.

Reserve Champion: The Look and the Cook

Loin Results: 1st Place Rescue Smokers; 2nd Place Leron’s BBQ; 3rd Place Flaming Hogs BBQ

Pork Results: 1st Place Shark Bite BBQ; 2nd Place Smokey Mountain BBQ; 3rd Place Heavy Metal Hogz

Ribs Results: 1st Place Big Butts BBQ; 2nd Place Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que; 3rd Place Real-Licious Q

Mar 02 2026

2026 Dilly Dally in Dooly Grand Champion Rescue Smokers

A HUGE thank you to Rhonda Lamb Heath (and team) and the Dooly Chamber of Commerce for putting on a stellar event for the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) family. 35 incredible teams came ready to battle it out. We enjoyed an outstanding field of competitors, with 9 different teams advancing to the Finals Round.