Welcome from NY! You don't have to hope to find good info here...you will. Great, knowledgeable people of all levels here always looking to help out.
I haven't snooped around too much yet. It seems to be a very "busy" website with all the pop-up adds, etc. Kind of hard to navigate.Welcome Bob...you have arrived...
If you haven't looked around much, let me say that this place is amazing with the amount of knowledge and willingness to share it. There's not much in the world of cooking that someone, or many, don't know about...
Sadly those ads are a pain, but are needed for the help to keep the site running. You can go ad free by either a yearly membership... not sure what that costs or a lifetime membership, which I purchased for $100... one time fee and is definitely worth it to me. Jeff, the owner of the site now is offering that for half price of $ 50.I haven't snooped around too much yet. It seems to be a very "busy" website with all the pop-up adds, etc. Kind of hard to navigate.
I haven't snooped around too much yet. It seems to be a very "busy" website with all the pop-up adds, etc. Kind of hard to navigate.
I did by the year premium membership for a few years to ditch the ads. I was about up for renewal a few years ago when Jeff did one of these half price lifetime deals. I took it, being as I'm a regular around here.Sadly those ads are a pain, but are needed for the help to keep the site running. You can go ad free by either a yearly membership... not sure what that costs or a lifetime membership, which I purchased for $100... one time fee and is definitely worth it to me. Jeff, the owner of the site now is offering that for half price of $ 50.
Any questions, just ask if you can't find them... someone will know the answer.
Ryan
Ya, that's the current price on lifetime, didn't see the yearly price so didn't want to say the wrong price. Was lucky, when I was a lurker and then a newbie there wasn't all the adds... I bought the lifetime premier even before they started. I had gotten way more from this site and was definitely worth it! Besides, I've spent that money on way dumber things! Sure glad I quit smoking 4 years ago... at today's prices a $ 100 would be 10 days worth of cigs!I did by the year premium membership for a few years to ditch the ads. I was about up for renewal a few years ago when Jeff did one of these half price lifetime deals. I took it, being as I'm a regular around here.
Were I a noob, don't know that I would have would have shelled out the $50.00 for half price lifetime, but I ain't going anywhere and hate ads.
I think it was like 15 bucks a year for the yearly premium membership. Makes good sense to pay the $50 instead if you plan to call SMF home for the long term.Ya, that's the current price on lifetime, didn't see the yearly price so didn't want to say the wrong price.
Welcome from SE Florida. was raised in Norther northern Indiana but didn't smoke back then.(at least not food)Finally! A smoking meat forum that isnt called "Reddit". I'm hopeful I'll get some good info here as opposed to the "Its my way or the highway" attitude you get in the Reddit forums. I've been smoking meat for better than 30 years but, as the website suggests, I'll start here. My name is Bob and as I said, I've been at this game a long time. Always pondered about starting my own little side business but I think a lot of the shine has worn off this gig. At least it has in my area of mid-Michigan. I've seen a lot of, in my opinion, really good BBQ joints/trucks, etc go by the way side around here so I am hesitant in setting myself up to fail. Seems the fascination with BBQ has eased up quite a bit in these parts.
I built my first couple smokers and have had a handful of different units over the years. Now-a-days I use only a Pit Boss Brunswick, and an SLE Equipment 250 gallon reverse flow off set (on wheels). I enter a few contests each year, and every September, the weekend after Labor Day, myself and 4-5 of my friends host a BBQ contest in my hometown of Westphalia. We usually have 12-14 teams but we are always open for, and have room for, more. It's more of a "back yard" contest for bragging rights but we do have trophies for winning the categories. We hold the contest at a local park, and we get a one-day liquor license so we can sell beer ($2/can!!!), etc to the public. We also have a DJ booming music all day. Hit me up if you're interested. I can provide more details.
I'd love to hear about BBQ contests/rib burns in and around mid-Michigan. I prefer the contests that aren't necessarily sanctioned by KCBS. I prefer the smaller contests (small town festival contests, "back yard" contests, etc). I've done the KCBS contests and although I had a lot of fun, I can't compete against the guys that are rolling in with 50k rigs pulled by 150k motor homes. If anyone here has entered the contest that Boss Brewing (Leslie Mi.) hosts each summer, I'd love to hear about that one.
I guess I will end it here and investigate the website and see what interesting things I can find. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!!
What part (or where) in Michigan? I hate the winter cold here (because I am getting older) but all in all it's a beautiful state with lots to see and do.Welcome from Alabama, I have kin folks in Michigan. They have invited me to come for years and I haven’t taken the opportunity.
EvartWhat part (or where) in Michigan? I hate the winter cold here (because I am getting older) but all in all it's a beautiful state with lots to see and do.
I know it well. Little town...sits on US-10, north west of Clare. If it weren't for the fact that the town sits on US-10, which is well traveled, there wouldn't be much to Evert.Evart