"Whats Goings on Y'all"

Pretty new to smoking, participated in a couple of "shift vs Shift" Competitions for EMS week here in South Carolina. I am pretty good in the kitchen and willing to put anything I do on a grill up to the "pepsi challenge" Not to say I have not destroyed a perfectly good piece of meat a time or two. Before those Employer functions I previously mentioned I had not done any smoking (with the exception of that stuff I did in high school, wasn't food but it sure made you put food away) I did a good bit of research before the second EMS week competition, The first time around I listened to the so called Shift "Expert" on smoking, I helped him and listened to everything he said, there were 4 shifts competing, had there been a 6th place we might have won that. Turns out ole boy resembled a septic tank more than a smoking expert as In, He was full of you know what. Second time around as I was saying me a couple of fellas on shift watched pit masters all the time, we looked up recipes, I tried some in the oven as did the other two fellas on shift and now and then Boss man would bring his small propane smoker from home and we would do a butt, bring the trucks in from the out stations and feed the shift. I found me a basic rub recipe and added to it as did I with a BBQ sauce and a Rib rub and I added to them till I came to a point I liked it. I am a sweet heat fan all day long.  As for that second competition. Well, Me and the Boss man and one EMT on shift took first place in the Butt portion of the show. That "expert" fella, He just kinda sat on the side lines looking butt hurt and told us all day long how we was messing up. At the end once the winners were announced ole boy wouldn't even let his family eat from our spread. Instead he went to the other shift's layouts and filled his plate from there. Its all good, turns out we didn't even have left overs to take home. We ran slap out of Pulled pork, ribs and chicken I am proud to say. Just think, If that fella and his family had ate our stuff someone else would have missed out.

  I am looking forward to talking with all you folks in hopes of sharing my experiences (not that I have many) and certainly reading what you all have to say in hopes of learning from more experienced folks like yourselves. I appreciate what you all have going on here and with a little luck, a little smoke and a whole bunch of blessings I can continue to feed family and friends real good food around a good ole time at the house.