A HUGE thank you to Karen Gaughf Singletary and the City of Sylvester for once again rolling out the red carpet and putting on a stellar event for the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) family. 27 incredible teams came ready to battle it out in Loin, Pulled Pork, and Ribs… and if that wasn’t enough, Mother Nature threw in a Friday night monsoon just to test everyone’s grit. These pitmasters proved they’re tough as nails — this contest was not for the faint of heart!
Grand Champion: Dad’s BBQ
Reserve Champion: The Look and The Cook BBQ
Loin Finals: 1st Place Pig EEEE Liscious; 2nd Place Bite My Butt BBQ; 3rd Place The Look and The Cook BBQ
Pulled Pork Finals: 1st Place Big Butts BBQ; 2nd Place Big Daddy’s Meat House; 3rd Place Real-liscious Q
Rib Finals: 1st Place Dad’s BBQ; 2nd Place The Look and The Cook; 3rd Place Big Daddy’s Meat House
Congratulations to our 2 new Master Judges: John Kelley and Rhonda Hitch
THANK YOU to our 2025 Georgia BBQ Association TEAM of the YEAR Sponsors- A BETTER BUILT FENCE CO .& DEXTER MEAT CO
Wow what a weekend! The GBA would like to tip its hat to Tori Gravlee and the Donalsonville DDA for hosting the Firehouse BBQ Festival this past weekend in Donalsonville GA. We had 21 Pro Teams who split over $10,000 in prize money! HUGE THANK YOU to all of the amazing GBA Judges and Reps that made the track down South for some great BBQ. Congratulations to The Look and the Cook on going Back to Back, winning the Grand Championship with their 1st Place Ribs. We would like to give Keith Bowen and the Fish Fry Crew a huge shout out for frying up some of the best Catfish ever, Great Hush Puppies, French fries, and all the other sides and deserts. Thank you to Lisa Oliver O’Neal who coordinated the sides for the Fish Fry. Donalsonville was the first of three
Leron’s BBQ had the most consistent cook of the day pulling off the Reserve Grand Championship.
LOIN CATEGORY
Bite My Butt BBQ took 1st Place in Loin, Flying Pig BBQ was 2nd Place Loin, and Shark Bite BBQ pulled in 3rd Place Loin.
PORK CATEGORY
1st Place Pork was Big Daddy’s BBQ Pit, almost destroying that poor table, 2nd Place Pork was Leron’s BBQ, and 3rd Place Pork Com’n Get It.
RIB CATEGORY
1st Place Rib The Look and the Cook, 2nd Place Rib Rescue Smokers, and 3rd Place Rib Big Daddy’s Meat House.
Loin, Pork, & Rib Category Results
Reserve Grand Scoring
THANK YOU TO our 2025 Georgia BBQ Association TEAM of the YEAR Sponsors – A BETTER BUILT FENCE CO. & DEXTER MEAT CO.
If you’re looking for quality in your fencing needs, look no further than A Better Built Fence company. They install both residential and commercial fencing, serving the entire metro Atlanta area.
Dexter Meats is your go-to shop for quality meats, whether you’re competing on the circuit or in your backyard! They also offer ready made meals, and can cater any size gathering.
Also thanks to our 2025 Product Sponsors:
Mike’s Garage Doors – Need an overhead door? Got one that needs a little work? Call Mike Ratterree to schedule an appointment.
Bubba Grills – looking to upgrade your cooking game? A Bubba grill is definitely the way to go.
Sunflower Apparel and Promotions – If you’re in the market for team shirts, hats, aprons, etc.
The 2024 GBA TOTY is sponsored by “A Better Built Fence Co.” owned by Chuck & Carrie East of Covington, GA. They repair, replace, or install commercial and residential fence. They pride themselves in efficiency, quality, and making sure every customer is satisfied with the work provided. If you are in need of a fence give them a call at (678) 939-7027.
Congratulations to Rocky Cisneros of 319 Q on being the 2024 GBA TOTY!
11th Let's Smoke Something; 12th Bite My Butt BBQ; 13th B-Rads BBQ; 16th Johnson Boys and Girl BBQ; 18th Grills Gone Wild; 19th Big Daddys BBQ Pit
Attending: Rick Godfrey, Danny Meadows, Greg Hoyt, Lois Sebastian, Jim Sewell, Alex Khoury, and Danny Evans
Membership Present: Greg Sebastian, Ed Vesely, Brian Bond, Robby Royal, Stephanie Royal, Danny Smith, Mike Holland, Travis James, John Ricketson, Ed Humphreys, Kay James, Chuck East, and Carrie East
Action
Motion
Second
Vote
To accept the Treasurer’s Financials and P&L Report
Rick Godfrey
Danny Meadows
Approved
7-0
To require cook teams to put at least 8 pieces of meat in turn-in boxes
Jim Sewell
Danny Meadows
Motion Withdrawn
To move turn-in times up by 30 minutes
Jim Sewell
Alex Khoury
Approved
7-0
To require trophies or plaques for 1st through 3rd place in each category
Lois Sebastian
Danny Meadows
Approved
7-0
To amend Master Judge contest record forms as proposed
Lois Sebastian
Danny Evans
Approved
7-0
To adopt the use of table captains during judging
Lois Sebastian
Danny Evans
Approved
7-0
To require there be at least 100 miles between two contests on the same weekend
Lois Sebastian
Danny Meadows
Approved
7-0
To approve the following contest designations:
State Championship—Milledgeville
Double Points—Canton, Thomaston, and Douglas
Rick Godfrey
Danny Evans
Approved
6-0
(Jim Sewell abstained)
To adopt the Cooking for Fun rules presented by Greg Hoyt with the insertion of “pitmaster” in the following sentence:
“No member of a CFF team may have participated as a PITMASTER of a professional cook team in any barbecue event (sanctioned or unsanctioned) in the past.”
Greg Hoyt
Jim Sewell
Approved
7-0
To prohibit a family member of a pitmaster from judging in a contest where the pitmaster is cooking. For purposes of this rule, “family member” is defined as a parent, child, sibling, or spouse.
Amended to add “living in the same household” to the definition of a family member for purposes of this rule.
Greg Hoyt
Amendment by Alex Khoury
Jim Sewell
Approved
7-0
To allow a judge to socialize with cook teams when the judge has completed judging for the day
2015 is an election year for the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA). The offices of President and Vice President are up for vote. The election will be for 2 year term beginning September 2015. The candidate qualifying period for these offices closed on April 15, 2015. The following have qualified to seek office in the upcoming election:
President – Danny Meadows (Incumbent); Scotty Lawson
Vice President – Jim Sewell (Incumbnent)
Voting will be conducted online via the GBA website — www.bbqga.com. The voting period will be from June 1 to June 10, 2015. Only current, active members may vote. A link to the voting page will be posted on the website when voting opens.
GBA Election Update