My first competition!

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

nedtorious

Smoke Blower
Original poster
Nov 30, 2012
130
30
Sherwood, TN
After 6 or 7 years of talking about it, I finally did it! I entered my first contest! It was a "backyard" contest, but a lot of very experienced, and very good teams were cooking in it (some with very expensive cookers to).

I arrived early Friday morning, the weather was nice! (But that would not last)

On Friday night first turn in was chicken wangs. I was very happy with these. Wangs and dessert were a joint contest with the pros. My wangs took 2nd place!:yahoo:
So I was really happy about that!



Next turn in was dessert. I turned in a Texas sheet cake. I thought it was awesome but judges didn't seem to like it.


Friday night was pure hell! After 3 or 4 rounds of thunderstorms it was a challenge just to keep everything dry, including me! I took 3 changes of clothes with me and by the time I got home they were all soaked (even the tshirt I got at the contest)!



It's all good I didn't let it get me down!

First turn in on Saturday was chicken. I really liked these. I got 8s and 9s, but one judge gave me a 6 in tenderness. I'm a CBJ no way these deserved a 6! Anyway these took 9th.

Next was ribz. These were awful, they never got tender. A thunderstorm hit just as I put them on, I didn't get a good bark on them, they just weren't good. I blame the weather!



Next was pork, over all I was pretty happy with it, the money muscles weren't as tender as they should have been, I originally wasn't going to put them in the box but when I sliced them I thought they were good. I think they tightened up a little in the box, it cost me. The judges didn't like it.



Overall in my first contest I finished 15th out of 22 teams( not bad for a guy with 1 ez
up and 2 Hunsaker Drums), but most importantly I survived! It was a lot of fun and I got to meet some really awesome people.

If any of you are considering competing, my advice would be to just go for it and if there's a chance of rain bring rubber boots!

Thanks for looking!
 
I am jelouse, I think that would be a blast. Not much going on for competitions here in ND. I entered my business in a rib cook off in July, that will be my first ever. I cannot wait. I do not care if I come in last place, just the experience will be fun.

Good job!!!
 
Thanks for the kind words guys! I finally got everything dried out and put up. If I didn't have to work every Saturday, during the summer, I'd probably do a lot more of these.
 
Congratulations!!!! It all looked real good to me. Thanks for posting the pictures!!

Points!! 
points.gif
 
Lol that looks like it was a good time. Good job on getting out there and giving it a go. It's weekends like that that you'll be telling stories about for a long time
 
Great job! I think your meats look fantastic, and with the incredibly hard conditions, Im impressed anything was put in at all!

Keep it going, and keep pushing through! I hope to eventually have a few under my belt in the next few years.
 
Just found this 6 week old thread, but that effort, commitment, and permanent smile in the face of such weather absolutely deserves
points1.png
!  All the turn-ins look fantastic!  Good for you.  I suspect this won't be your last contest entry.  Did you have a name for your team?
 
Aw shucks, guys thanks for the kind words!

EJ, I use the Adam Perry Lang method for wangs, basically I foil with butter and broth 1st, then finish on the hot grill so the skin gets kinda crispy.

Nobo, I've been making a bbq sauce for years, that I call my Hillbilly Soul Sauce, so I named my team Hillbilly Soul BBQ!
 
Congratulations on making the leap into competition! I haven't been that brave quite yet!

Since it was your first time, what are your takeaways from it? What advice can you give to other first-timers like myself? Is there anything that you forgot or something you wished you would have had with you?

I can't say I'd be too excited about making a dessert...bleh. Haha..
 
Congratulations on making the leap into competition! I haven't been that brave quite yet!

Since it was your first time, what are your takeaways from it? What advice can you give to other first-timers like myself? Is there anything that you forgot or something you wished you would have had with you?

I can't say I'd be too excited about making a dessert...bleh. Haha..

Thanks, I sliced my finger, just getting one of my knives out of the case! So definitely bring a first aid kit!

And if there is a chance of rain, bring rubber boots, walking around in crocs for two days in ankle deep water wasn't much fun!
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Clicky