Sam's Club-Salt Lake City...better than expected

I gotta admit, I was excited about jumping back into the BBQ contest world but it's been since July 2013 since we competed in a full 4 meat contest.  We've cooked quite a bit but we haven't really practiced for competition.  Last month we competed in two rib only contests...doing well in one and tanking the other.  

We loaded up the trailer, picked up our meat, packed personal stuff and hit the road.  We traveled to Cedar City Thursday evening to spend the night instead of getting up a O'dark thirty and driving 450 miles.  This worked well and I think we'll do it again.  It was nice to not be so tired come Saturday at turn in time.  

We set up the Trailhound camp and settled in. Satisfied Hogs were next to us.  This time they brought Dutchess...the weiner dog.  What a cutie pie she is...can't believe I didn't get a picture of her.  

Squat & Gobble were on the next aisle...such great folks 

R&R (our first mentors) hosted an IMBBQA dinner Friday night at their site.  

We have a check list, we checked it, we forgot stuff...important stuff...ingredients for ribs, chicken, and brisket.  Yes, this was definitely the first full contest of the year.  I improvised and whipped up an injection for the pork with what we had available.  Ribs and brisket just didn't their ingredients.  

I thought my chicken was pretty good, I was pleased with the trimming, thought it looked and tasted good, we didn't forget any stuff for it so I thought it might be our best category.  Judges didn't think so...finished with a 20th placement.  

No call in ribs, finished 24th...apparently we need to work on ribs at the moment.  

We weren't expecting to hear our name in pork; after all, we forgot the injection.  There's a new rule for pork this year.  You can remove the money muscle from the butt so what the heck, let's give that a try.  It sliced better this time around I think, maybe a bit dark though.  Overall, I thought the box looked good.  We're thankful the judges liked it and we took 2nd place!  Now to remember what I put in the impromptu injection.  lol

Last but not least...brisket.  The first one we sliced didn't have the flavor we were hoping for.  Thankfully, the second one was on point and flavorful.  For the last couple of years, brisket has been our strong meat...and this year is starting off that way...2nd place call!  

By the grace of God we managed to place 6th overall.  I'm not sure we cooked well enough but I'm not a judge to make that final decision.  Thankfully, we are moving on to the next round...regionals in Las Vegas!  Congrats to R&R for walking in all four categories and placing 1st for GC.  We also want to congratulate Satisfied Hogs for their 3rd place walk for ribs.  They have been on a roll in the last 4 events in that category.  

Here are a few more photos to share from the event.  

Kim and Jason (Satisifed Hogs) 

One of the R&R boys 

Half Baked Hippies...what a wild looking set up! 

Mack (Got Smoke) working hard. 

Timm cutting ribs to see which ones we like best. 

Thanks to Troy Black, Sam's Club and all their sponsors, and to our new meat sponsor, John Mull's Meats and the Road Kill Grill.  

Chester's Harley Davidson BBQ Comp

Boy, I totally missed the posting for this event.  We were blessed to be able to attend this event in Mesa in March.  Tommy and Jen run a class act event for sure.  This was one of their dual events they are holding this year. 

There was a lot going on that weekend for us, well me.  I tend to over do it sometimes.  There was a craft show, a wedding, and the contest.  I just didn't see a way to be able to drive with Timm on Friday so I flew down that evening after completing flowers for Saturday's wedding.  I really need to thank my best friend, Diane for helping out with this one.  She went and set it all up for me on Saturday, picked up my stuff from the craft show and had a mini melt down so I could BBQ.  I love her. 
This event was tied in with Biker Week.  Bands were playing most of the day and into the night...really loud bands.  We were backed up to the street where most of the bikes were parked, so we got to listen to them leave about midnight.  This was not our favorite part by any means.
It was the first outing for the new BBQ trailer and we were so pleased.  It's efficient, roomy, and clean up and tear down is so much easier.  It towed really well too.
We didn't finish as high in the standings as we'd like but we did okay, we weren't last.  Saturday's awards brought us 13th overall, 17th in chicken, 18th in ribs, 14th in pork, and 7th in brisket.  Sunday, we earned 20th overall, 9th in chicken, 22nd in ribs, 16 in pork, and 19th in brisket.  Timm was dissapointed. 
Congrats to R&R BBQ!  They took RGC on Sunday!  They even took 1st in chicken both days. They did well that weekend. And although Little Miss BBQ didn't back up their two recent RGCs and GC, they did well too.  I think Bekke's pregnancy is a good luck charm.  ;0)

Rythm & Que and Pigskin BBQ were our neighbors this time around.  Both really good teams.  Vince and Alexa were a hit at the awards, wearing one of the vendor's helmets.  Alexa wore a raccoon with fangs and antelope antlers.  Vince wore a huge buffalo fur, massive horned helmet...good thing he's a big guy.