Spring BBQ Raises Money for K9s for Warriors

Our Spring BBQ was a raging success to say the least.  We had record breaking numbers in both crowds and dollars.  Overwhelmed with positive emotions is a least of the words that I can use to describe how the day went.

We are so thankful for all the help we received this year.  Thank you to our sponsors...Advanced Pro, MSE and John Mull's Meats.  Without them, it would have been very difficult to fund the event. 

Huge thank you's go out to all the guys who offered to help our with the cooking.  It was quite an undertaking.  We prepared a 90+ pound whole hog, 12 racks of ribs plus a big stash of rib tips, 7 briskets, 4 pork butts, 7 dozen hot dogs and 40 pounds of leg quarters.  

Mike, Scott and Timm started in about 11:00pm Friday night prepping the hog to go in the pit by midnight.

The rest of the crew came in the morning to trim chicken, and get the ribs, brisket and butts into the pits. 

They did an amazing job! 

Yes, you are seeing correctly...we had 3 large pits going to cook all the meat...

and a grill for the hot dogs.

Thanks to Scott, Mike, Leon, Steve, and Robert for pulling off this ginormous effort. 

And, we can't thank Jason with Satisfied Hogs for the use of their pit.  That's huge, because I don't think Timm would lend out our pit to anyone...okay, maybe just one or two people. 

My brother, Nelson and my dad, Don carved up the hog for everyone. 

Chris and Robert got all the tables covered.

Chris also made sure we got a bounce house for the kids and put together to looping video about K9s for Warriors. 

We had about 190 people come out for the event.  (I think missed a few at check in)

No one went hungry Saturday, that is for sure.  

Thanks to Veronica and Marty for handling the silent auction.  There were some great prizes in those baskets, along with 2 wreaths from Twiddlebugz, a quilt donated by Jane, and some yummy homemade goodies from Say Hello to My Little Smoker.  They also managed to get 2 tickets to Blue Man Group and a night's stay at Monte Carlo.  We raffled that prize off. 

Timm even climbed up on the rook to get a photo for K9s for Warriors 'Stop 22' campaign.  Notice every has two fingers up on each hand...22.

We are so proud to be able to host this event and even more pleased to be able to donate 100% of donations to K9s for Warriors to help train and place rescue dogs with our veteran warriors suffering from PTSD and TBI.  All together, $6005 was collected through the event page on their website and collections at the barbecue. Our friends, family and co-workers gave with their hearts. God's hands were on this whole event that's for sure.  

It was on honor to host our annual Spring BBQ and to have it benefit an organization that supports two things so close to our hearts...our veterans and our furry friends...and when they are put together, its even better. We look forward to being able to work with them again and want to continue to support their efforts.

Again, thank you to Advanced Pro, MSE, and John Mull's Meats for their sponsorship.  Thank to all our volunteers...Mike Verner, Leon Drew, Steve Roy, Robert Schnerch, Scott and Christy Martin, Mark Fosdick, Chris an Bri Martin, Don and Jane Grandjean, Nelson Grandjean, Samantha Patterson, Marty and Veronica Coon, Tony and Brenda Lloyd.  Thanks to Gay Guymon for the 6 trays of desserts, Larry and Susan, and Tony and Brenda for the use of their cornhole games and to Jason from Satisfied Hogs for the use of his pit.  Thank you to all who gave services and/or items to the silent auction as well.  You guys all rock!

Thank you to everyone for all the support you gave us and K9s for Warriors.  Please 'Like' them on Facebook, follow them on Instagram, and be sure to check out their website at K9sForWarriors.org.  

Spring Barbecue 2015...'Cueing For A Cause

Please join us, eat championship barbecue, and donate generously to a worthy organization.

Can't make it...donate directly at our event page on their site.  

http://k9sforwarriors.donorpages.com/MyEvent/TrailhoundBBQ/

Be sure to check them out at K9sForWarriors.org

A Barbecue Contest Full of Firsts!

It really was a weekend of firsts...1st year for this contest, our 1st IBCA contest, our 1st first place in any category, and our first GC.

We had a great time in Logandale at the Fall Festival and IBCA BBQ contest.  Friday night local kids and their parents came out to Trunk or Treat.  Lots of kids, fun costumes, and candy.  There was a carnival, craft show and lots of good times to be had.  

This was our first IBCA sanctioned contest.  There are a few differences like turn in times are one hour apart instead of 30 minutes with 20 minute turn-in windows instead of 10 minutes.  It was really pretty relaxing, giving us time to socialize more.  

We had a great cook!  We walked in every category...top three in every category in fact.  We are pleased to receive our very first Grand Champion placement!  That's right...GC!

We feel very blessed.

We are also so proud of Adam and his mom,Jackie with Stoked to Smoke.  He walked every category and received his first Reserve Grand Champion!  

Nevada BBQ Association members had great results at this contest.  Six teams competed and all six teams got several calls.  Congrats to Swine Thyme USA, SCORCH, BBQ Nerds, Butts and Racks, Stoked to Smoke and ourselves, Trailhound Smokers BBQ.

Congrats to everyone!

Catering Eagle Scout Court of Honor

We invested many years into the Scouting program with our own boys and their friends.  I still believe it is one of the best character building programs for boys there is.  We had the honor of catering Adam's Court of Honor, and even though he isn't our Boy Scout we feel like he is one of our own.

Adam and his mom, Jackie.  

Not only is Adam a fine young man, high school marching band member, and Eagle Scout...he's also a growing competition BBQ pit master!

We know how boys love to eat, so we prepared for that fact when planning for this one.  No one went hungry and we saw some very full plates leaving the kitchen...seconds for many, and even thirds for some.














There's nothing better than seeing a room full of people enjoy the food you prepared for them.
Congratulations Adam!   We're proud of you!  See you on the BBQ trail.

Catering for our troops

It's spring in the southwest...that means the weather is great and folks are enjoying their time outside.  For us, that means a busy BBQ time.  We've been blessed with quite a few catering jobs over the last couple of months but the one that really stands out is cooking for the 820th Red Horse Squadron at Nellis AFB.  

We catered their spring family event in March for 350 people.  When hearing back from them they said they loved it, got rave reviews and even heard we won over a few Texans with our brisket.  That is a huge compliment in itself. 

This month, we were honored to hear from them to cater their homecoming celebration for the troops coming home from Afghanistan.  This is such an honor for us to provide the food for an important event for them.  

Timm and I (Crystal) both grew up close to Nellis AFB and have great respect for all the armed forces but the Air Force is dear to us and the Airmen that work in all aspects to protect our country. 

We heard back again...they loved and devoured the food.  That means so much to us! 

Best Dam BBQ in Boulder City

This year is flying by...it's all ready time to head to Boulder City, NV for the Best Dam Barbecue Challenge.  The Rotary Club hosts this event every Memorial Day Weekend and they do a fantastic job.  We're hoping for great weather and a prize winning cook.  We've had a few calls at this event in year's past but this event seems to be our nemesis when it comes to getting a top 5 call.  This year we have Tracy, a KCBS certified barbecue judge cooking with us as she works for her master certification.  This should be a great learning experience for her and we're honored she chose us to cook with.  Hopefully, she will be good luck for us. 

This is a great family event with lots of stuff to do including a Kid's Que contest, kids zone full of fun activities, a beer garden, great BBQ meals for sale, a vendor's market and more.  Be sure to come out on Saturday to check it all out.  

Nevada BBQ Association is once again hosting a team/judge potluck dinner Friday evening.  Should be even bigger and better than last year from what I hear.  

Awards are supposed to be at 5:00om on Saturday.  We're hoping to hear a name...several times would be amazing.  

Sam Club BBQ Tour Regional...Las Vegas

We made it through to the second round (regional event) in Las Vegas...a mere 20 miles from home. It was a crazy windy, cold, and rain threatening event.  The wind was so bad that no one was allowed to put up canopies. This made it difficult for many teams, and a boost for U-Haul truck rentals.  In fact, they didn't even put up sides on the judges tent.  It was up because it's weighed down with 55 gallon drums filled with water.  

Timm forgot his coat so he had a rough night.   

Crystal came out after setting up a wedding, and back out again in the morning.  

Our site...not looking like much of a site without a tent to ground it.  

Young BBQ dude, Adam Difloe came out and gave us a hand, braved the cold, and was a great help.  At only 17 years old, he might just be one of the youngest pitmaster's around...he and his mom make up Stoked to Smoke, another Vegas team. 

We fought the wind and weather that effected the pit temps and meat.  Large meats did not want to come up to temp and were taking up to 2+ hours longer than normal to cook.  We didn't use our usual brand of chicken and that cost us I think.  The skin shrunk up to look like small squares that laid on top of the thighs.  Amy (Got Smoke BBQ) told me that it was packed in water and that's why the skin shrunk so much.  We felt like we had a good turn in box of ribs.  The money muscle sliced really well on the pork, and the first brisket was pretty good.  

Overall, we finished 18th with a 661.6688 so we won't be moving on to Bentonville in September.  That was a higher score than the Salt Lake event but scores were higher overall at this one. We placed 22nd in chicken, 19th in ribs, 11th in pork, and 14th in brisket at this contest.  

Big thanks to John Mull's Meats for sponsoring us once again...we sure appreciate them.  We had so hoped to make a good showing for them.  Guess that day is still coming...let's pray it's in Boulder City next month.  

Almost half the teams were doing a double header by heading out to Mesquite to compete in Smokin' in Mesquite to compete Saturday and Sunday.  We wish them all the best along with the other teams  competing there.  

Congrats to Rhythm-n-Que for claiming GC and Slap Yo Daddy BBQ for RGC.  Best of luck to all the teams that are moving on to finals. 

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.