Forty-four professional BBQ teams traveled to Milledgeville, Georgia on October 20, 2018 to compete as part of Deep Roots Festival. This extended the current streak of every GBA sanctioned contest of the 2018-19 season having at least forty teams. The teams not only fought for their share of over $15,000 in prize money, but also bragging rights as the GBA State Champion.
For the second time this season, Holy Smokes was crowned Grand Champion with a trophy and $3,500 check. Along the way, Holy Smokes also finished first in both ribs and loin, and received a perfect 600 score for their preliminary loin entry. The Reserve Grand Championship went to Smokin’ the Good Stuff for the highest cumulative preliminary scores in all three categories by finishing 5th in loin, 3rd in pork, and 2nd in ribs.
Holy Smokes won the Loin category, with Off the Chain in second, and Blue Diablo BBQ finishing third. It was the first finals call for Blue Diablo.
Bubba Grills returned to GBA competition by winning the Pork category and scoring a 600 in the preliminary round. They were followed by Weekend Warriors in second place and Smokin’ the Good Stuff in third.
The top three teams in Ribs were Holy Smokes, Smokin’ the Good Stuff, and Tuff Dawg Grillers. This was the first GBA sanctioned contest for Tuff Dawg Grillers.
In the ancillary categories, Nut Job won poultry, Forget Me Not took the stew category, local team 5 O’clock Somewhere won desserts, and Sensational Pigs claimed the Bloody Mary title. Hold Your Horses won the People’s Choice award as the fans’ favorite.
Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results are available here: https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/DRF%202018%20Pro%20Categories.pdf
All Reserve Scores are available here: https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/DRF%202018%20Reserve%20scores.pdf
The Team of the Year points should already be updated on the GBA website.
The next GBA sanctioned event will be the 6th Annual Smokin’ Flamingo BBQ and Music Festival in Jacksonville, Florida on November 17 with 56 teams already scheduled to compete. Please register online at BBQGA.com if you would like to judge this new GBA contest. Contests in Moultrie on December 1, and a first time event in Americus on December 15, wrap up the 2018 calendar.
The next GBA judging class will be held in Griffin, Georgia shortly after the first of the year. Additional details and class registration information will be posted soon.