Lisa Oneal

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.

Reserve Champion Off the Chain

Loin Finals: 1st Place Grills Gone Wild; 2nd Place Big Butts BBQ; 3rd Place Jack’s Old South

Pork Finals: 1st Place Rescue Smokers; 2nd Place Pogo’s Porkers; 3rd Place Shark Bite BBQ

Ribs Finals: 1st Place Off the Chain; 2nd Place Union Street BBQ; 3rd Place Vienna Vol Fire Dept

Feb 22 2026

2026 Carroll’s Sausage BBQ Competition-Big Butts BBQ takes Grand Champion

The Georgia Barbecue Association had a fantastic day in Ashburn benefiting the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia. The first GBA contest of the 2026 Cook Year drew 26 teams to a wonderful venue at the Georgia Peanut RV Park, alongside Carroll’s Sausage & Country Store—held fittingly on Valentine’s Day.

The Scottish Rite Foundation partnered with Carroll’s Sausage & Country Store and Georgia Peanut RV Park to host the contest as part of the celebration and fundraising effort for its annual Outdoorsman Raffle. The raffle was a tremendous success, raising funds to support Georgia’s children and future leaders through RiteCare speech and language clinics for children with communication disorders and through college scholarships. Since its founding in 1980, the Foundation has worked to improve literacy, support education, and empower children to reach their full potential.

We enjoyed an outstanding field of competitors, with 7 different teams (27%) advancing to the Finals Round. After a long layoff from competition, 319 Q returned in strong form—making a Finals appearance in all three meat categories and earning Reserve Championship honors. When the sauce and smoke settled in the Final Round, Big Butts BBQ claimed the Grand Championship with an outstanding Loin entry.