Jethro’s Cooking Crew Takes Grand at The Hog Jam!

Jethro’s Cooking Crew Takes Grand at The Hog Jam!

Blairsville, GA, The Lodge at Copperhead – (by Greg Hoyt) The North Georgia Mountains were smoky the weekend of October 12-13.  The Hog Jam at The Lodge at Copperhead just outside of Blairsville, GA was the northern most GBA Contest to date – barely 14 miles from the Georgia-North Carolina State line.

The owners, staff and friends of The Lodge at Copperhead rolled out the red carpet Friday night starting with heavy Hors d’oeuvres an open bar and a rock’n band on the back porch at the Lodge.  The food was fabulous; the drinks were great, the music was wonderful.  Everything our hosts planned for Friday night set the perfect atmosphere for fellowship that is always part of a great GBA Weekend. Anthony, Michelle, Jerry and Paula all worked tirelessly to be sure that everything ran smoothly through the awards on Saturday.

Pitmaster Jeff Schram and Jethro’s Cooking Crew arrived late Friday evening.  Once they got set up, they set the pace for a field of GBA Teams that included Smok’n Willy Squealers, Bubba Grills, The Pampered Pig, Rufus Smokehouse BBQ, Old Henry’s BBQ, Onsite Ribs, Smokn’ 42 and Natural Born Smokers.

Friday Night ancillary winners were: Sauce – Smokn’Q and Onsite Ribs, Stew – Smokin Willy Squealers, Wild Game – Onsite Ribs, Dessert – Rufus Smokehouse, and Bloody Mary – Onsite Ribs.

Saturday morning cookers poured smoke into the mist coming off of the mountains.  Bright sun and mild temperatures burned the mist off early as everyone had a great time cooking to win one of the unique locally made pig trophies.

Four teams double finaled: The Pampered Pig (Loin and Pulled Pork), Jethro’s Cooking Crew (Loin and Ribs), Bubba Grills (Loin and Ribs) Smokin’Willy Squealers (Ribs and Pulled Pork).

Jethro’s Cooking Crew won the Hog Jam Grand Championship with their Ribs.  After years of supporting the GBA as a cook and past President, it was Pitmaster Jeff Schram’s first GBA Grand Championship.  A strong cook by Smokin’Willy Squealers brought the Reserve Champion trophy to Carl and Mary Williams.

Full results are here:

The GBA Pro teams were joined by a small but very talented group of backyard teams,  Diggen Q, Rollin Smoker, Screaming Eagles BBQ, Wilber’s Been Smokin’ Somethin’ and Smokin Q BBQ.  These teams received the full “Pro” experience from meat check-in to judging by certified Judges, comment cards through the awarding of the backyard Grand and Reserve Champion.  The caliber of product turned out by the backyard teams was extraordinary.  On the backyard side, Diggen Q was Grand Champion with Rollin Smoker taking Reserve.