Our first BBQ competition was at Freedom Fest in Montgomery, Texas in 2014 as Merica Smokers. That weekend, we took home the title of Grand Champion. I often wonder if we’d have been so hooked on cook-offs had we lost. But I’m always sure it was part of God’s plan and timing.
Cook-offs are expensive and time consuming and lots of hard work….but there’s very little that compares to the smell of 100 pits rolling at 4 am and the excitement of trying to beat out some of your best friends. We don’t get to compete as much as we once did, but competitive cooking has certainly influenced our business and our recipes. Not to mention, it’s given us some of our most favorite family memories and experiences.