The GBA headed over to Donalsonville, GA for the 2023 Firehouse BBQ cookoff. 12 of the best teams in the GBA made life tough for the judges there, and when all the counting was done Off the Chain took the Grand Championship! Huge thank you to all of the GBA Judges making the drive down South to help make this competition happen!
The most consistent team for the day was Pig-eee-licious winning the Reserve Grand Champion with Double Finals and the days only 600.
Hot Ash Q
1st Loin
Bite By Butt BBQ
2nd Loin
Pig-eee-licious
3rd Place Loin
Hot Ash Q had the best Loin entry of the day, followed by Bite my Butt BBQ and Pig-eee-licious.
Pig-eee-licious
1st Place Pork
Shark Bite BBQ
2nd Place Pork
Bit My Butt BBQ
3rd Place Pork
Pig-eee-licious won the Pork category – and had a perfect 600 in preliminaries! Shark Bite BBQ took second while Big Butts BBQ settled in 3rd.
Off the Chain BBQ
1st Ribs
Rescue Smokers
2nd Ribs
Posse BBQ
3rd Ribs
Off the Chain was the top Rib team, besting Rescue Smokers (2nd) and Posse BBQ in 3rd.
Tori Gravlee 
Fish Fry Team 
Huge Thank You to Tori Gravlee for an amazing weekend, along with local Pitmaster Keith Bowen On Friday night we had an amazing Fish Fry with teams, judges, and reps bringing a wide variety of sides and deserts. It was a fun time with BBQ FAMILY. This contest also showed what the GBA is all about on Saturday with multiple teams doing what was need to help fellow competitors, “GBA FAMILY”. Those that were there know what it’s all about, there is NOTHING LIKE OUR GBA FAMILY! Looking forward to the 2024 Donalsonville Firehouse BBQ Festival next March.
Now on to Team of the Year!
Off the Chain regained the overall spot in the Team of the Year Points race, 6 points ahead of both Posse BBQ and Rescue Smokers, who are tied for 2nd place. Shark Bite BBQ remains in 4th, and Real-Licious held onto 5th.
Off the Chain kept their top spot in Loin, but Posse BBQ closed the gap to 3 points in 2nd place, and 319Q remains in 3rd.
Off the Chain holds on to the Pork Category, comfortably ahead of Rescue Smokers in 2nd. Shark Bite BBQ closed the gap, moving to within 3 points of 2nd place.
Rescue Smokers is still the top rib team. Real-Licious jumped over 319Q to claim 2nd by 2 points.
We’ve only got two more events and some of these close races will come down to these last contests. The Modern Gas Ribs Showdown is held on Oct 21 in Albany, GA and should be a great event. It’s held at Chehaw park, and there looks to be quite a lot going on. This event has both a Professional and a IAW event, so cooks of any skill level are welcome to sign up and test your skills. The Red, White, and Blue BBQ in Canton, GA will finish out our season on Oct 28. Canton is quickly becoming one of the favorite events of the year, with their tribute to our armed forces and veterans front and center.