Welcome from the south of you a bit, in Kiel, WI, near Sheboygan. This is an awesome place to learn, I'm new also but thanks to this forum I have learned a lot and have made some great eats. You can find everything you need to get started and turn out good stuff here. I started by just reading up and figuring out where to start, it can be as easy or hard as you want to make it. I went very easy, gas smoker, Maverick thermometer and Jeff's recipes to get started. Haven't made anything we haven't enjoyed eating yet and it just keeps getting better as I learn. My favorite meal so far, all learned here .......... 3-2-1 Spares, Dutch's Wicked Baked Beans, ABTs with cream cheese and raspberry preserves. Oh man, now I'm getting hungry!