Cookoff in Apex, NC, Features Top Barbecue Teams Again

Finishing third overall was Blue & Gray BBQ, which placed first in the ribs category. Photo: Blue & Gray BBQ via Facebook.

Peak City Pig Fest continues to earn accolades for featuring some of the best barbecue cooking teams that compete in contests sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. In addition to being a fun event each year for the town of Apex, NC, the Pig Fest has a long history of supporting its community. 

The chicken entry by Swine ‘N’ Roses looks wonderful; however, the team managed just an eleventh-place finish in that meat category. Photo: Swine 'N' Roses via Facebook.

Organized by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Apex, the Pig Fest has contributed more than $500,000 to local charities; the primary one this year is Western Wake Crisis Ministries. 

Smokin Skullies BBQ won first place in the brisket category with a perfect score of 180

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At the start of the judges’ meeting, organizer Graham Wilson announced that 25 teams were competing — a few new ones but most were elite teams that had been competitors before. They were vying for the $10,800 in prize money.

The judges get organized before their meeting begins.

To judge the entries of all the cooking teams, four tables of judges with a table captain were needed. The table where I was assigned included judges with a wide range of experiences, including one who was participating in just his third cookoff.

In addition to the barbecue cookoff, the Pig Fest includes a two-day street scene with live entertainment, food trucks, beer garden, sponsor displays, and vendors.

Before the contest began, the favorite team to win was Mcadoo Heights, which had been the grand champion in the previous two years. However, this year they slipped to 10th place overall, although they did win first place in the pork category.

Mcadoo Heights won first prize in the brisket category. Photo: Mcadoo Heights via Facebook.

The winning team was Optimus Swine from Williamsburg, Va. Although they did not win in any meat category, they placed second in both ribs and chicken. Their lowest finish was fifth place in brisket, and overall they accumulated more points than any other team. 

Optimus Swine went home with the top cash prize, trophies as Grand Champion and winner of the People's Choice contest, and awards for three meat categories.

Apex has always been one of my favorite contest sites. Now that I live just 15 minutes away, it’s even more enjoyable to be a judge at the Pig Fest. I hope to be able to continue to participate in this event. It’s a worthwhile event for the local community.

Cooking teams set up in off-street locations in downtown Apex.

90 Years and Counting: Continuing the Barbecue Tradition at Holland’s Church

The quiet, rural community around Holland's Church knows where to find excellent barbecue. 

When a community has been fixin’ barbecue for 90 years, it has to be good. Located nine miles south of downtown Raleigh, NC, near the intersection of two historic roads, Old Stage and Ten-Ten, Holland’s Church has been doing just that for nine decades. 

The popular barbecue is served in clamshell boxes with potatoes, coleslaw, and hushpuppies.

The church serves its barbecue, potatoes, coleslaw, and hushpuppies in a clamshell box, and runners carry the boxes to tables as people arrive. (There is no standing in line.) Tea (sweet) and water are the beverages. Homemade desserts (pies and cakes) available by the slice are on another table. To-go plates can also be bought as well as containers of barbecue and freshly made pork skins. 

The efficient kitchen crew prepares the clamshell boxes quickly.

Until recently, the barbecue dinner was served family style. After paying at the door, people were seated at tables where bowls of barbecue, coleslaw, potatoes, and hushpuppies were placed, and they were joined by other community members. Everyone could eat as much as they liked.

Runners carry the clamshell boxes to tables as customers arrive.

Preparing barbecue plates has been a tradition at the church for several generations. Every April and November, the church’s members renew their long-standing ritual. However, the church was 122 years old before it began contributing annually to the region’s barbecue culture. 

The dessert table adds an extra sweetness to the day.

This Methodist congregation was established in 1812. Holland’s Church quickly became the center of a community in southern Wake County that was generally isolated from other pockets of population and the evolving city of Raleigh (established as the county seat and state capital only a few years earlier in 1792). This location was being settled before railroads were built in the area.

The eat-in area begins to fill up when the serving line opens at 11 a.m.

In fact, the church predates two major railroads built in the state. The North Carolina Railroad, which connected cities in the Piedmont to those on the Atlantic coast, was chartered in 1849 by the state legislature and opened for operation in 1851. The Chatham Railroad, connecting Chatham County (west of Wake) to Raleigh, opened in 1869.

Trays of pork skins are available at each table.

The church is named for William Holland, who was born in Chester, England, in 1750 and immigrated to Wake County. Before dying on December 4, 1809, the former English schoolmaster had prepared a will that provided $400 “to build a good Methodist Meeting House, that may have a partition at one end thereof for a classroom.” Holland is buried in the church’s cemetery.

The to-go line stays busy throughout the day.

The church was used as a school, a tribute to Holland’s desire that the church include an “educational enterprise.” Believed to be the first school in the county outside the city of Raleigh, this use signified “its established position in the life of the community,” according to the historical text “Early Methodist Meeting Houses in Wake County, North Carolina” by G. Franklin Grill, a church historian. 

Hushpuppy batter is ready for frying at the prep area outside the church.

Nothing in historical records indicates when Holland’s Church also became the center of barbecue excellence. To celebrate the 90th anniversary, the church offered a free plate to anyone who was 90 or older. Imagine being 90 years old and having been part of this barbecue tradition for decades. It would be a life worth living.

Iron Station, NC: First BBQ Contest of the New Year

Ribs prepared by Off The Rack BBQ team look almost perfect. Photo: Off The Rack BBQ/Facebook.

The barbecue contest in Iron Station, NC, is relatively new. It was first held in 2022. This year was my first opportunity to attend as a judge. 

Judges settle into the new barn of Mission Farm before their meeting begins.

Named for its history as an iron mining town with a train station, Iron Station is a small, rural community about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte. One of the local attractions is Mission Farm, a 90-acre property with breathtaking views. A main feature is a 1923 farmhouse that has been turned into a forever home by the Shank family, who have transformed the sprawling acreage into a wedding and event venue. 

Nothing makes a view more breathtaking than a rustic, well-used farm truck.

Known as Mission Farm’s King of the Farm, the contest is popular because it is now an early contest sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and not too far for many cooking teams in several states to travel to.

Cooking teams stake out their spaces early at Mission Farm. Swine 'N' Roses BBQ, in the photo, placed high in the pork category.

For this year’s event, 26 teams competed for the $6,520 in prize money. The first-place winner, known as grand champion, was Casual Smokers. In second place as the reserve champion was Off The Rack BBQ, which posted on Facebook that this event is one that it will never miss because it is so well organized. 

In the covered pavilion area of the new barn, members of the Off The Rack BBQ show off their overall trophy plus trophies for each meat category: chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket.

The weather for the contest was perfect. The cooking teams upheld the best traditions of barbecue competition. As the first event of the year for many teams and judges, the King of the Farm contest was a remarkable success.

   

The beginnings of the contest winner in the brisket category. Photo: Off The Rack BBQ/Facebook.

Weather Dampens BBQ Enthusiasm in Rocky Mount, NC

The rib entry from Swine 'N' Roses, the grand champion, which placed third in the rib category. Photo: Swine 'n' Roses/Facebook.

Rocky Mount, NC, is known for many things, although barbecue may not be one of them. However, the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown, which is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, has been pushing barbecue to the forefront for several years. I first judged at this event in 2017, returned again in 2018, but had not been able to attend again until this year. 

Judges assemble for the start of their meeting.

Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown

For many years it has been a major event for cooking teams as well as judges. This year, however, the weather — steady, hard rain with high winds — significantly dampened everyone’s enthusiasm and kept the usual large crowd of observers away. 

The rainy weather made the contest less enjoyable for the cooking teams..

What had been a popular street scene was barely attended. The cooking teams, nevertheless, rose to the occasion and provided what the judges were looking for: excellent barbecue. 

Entries are ready to be taken to the judges.

Swine 'n' Roses Wins

This year 27 teams competed for the $18,900 in cash prizes. As usual, the contest consisted of the four KCBS categories (chicken, pork ribs, pork, and beef brisket) which are required entries in order to qualify for the Grand Championship, which was won by Swine 'N' Roses BBQ. 

Swine 'n' Roses was not only the grand champion, but they also won trophies for each of the four meat categories plus a trophy for scoring more than 700 points. Photo: Swine 'n' Roses/Facebook.

Prizes are also awarded in individual categories, and an optional category is the People’s Choice. 

The poor weather limited how many voted in the People's Choice contest. 

Although the poor weather reduced how many spectators attended, the event still upheld the best traditions of barbecue competitions. The teams vied for the prizes, and the best one won.

The chicken entry prepared by Swine 'n' Roses, the grand champion. Photo: Swine 'n' Roses/Facebook.

The pork entry prepared by Swine 'n' Roses, the grand champion. Photo: Swine 'n' Roses/Facebook.

The brisket entry prepared by Swine 'n' Roses, the grand champion. Photo: Swine 'n' Roses/Facebook.

Starting a BBQ Tradition in Clayton, NC

Unlimited beer samples were almost as popular as barbecue. Photo: Downtown Clayton NC via Facebook.

Clayton, NC, isn’t known for its barbecue traditions. However, it’s never too late to begin one. Enter the Clayton BBQ Challenge, which had its inaugural event in 2023 with promises of becoming an annual event to celebrate beer, bands, and barbecue. 

Cooking teams set up near the Civitan Center in Clayton.

Clayton Celebrates with Barbecue

With a population of fewer than 25,000, Clayton has successfully preserved a small-town atmosphere, particularly in its downtown historic district. However, it promotes itself as “the fastest growing town in the fastest growing county in North Carolina” — and brags that it’s no longer the “one-stoplight town it was 40 years ago.”

The Off the Rack team scored high in the contest and won first place in the pork category.

Overshadowed by Raleigh, the state capital about 15 miles away, the town seeks to create its own identity. Having a barbecue cookoff is one way to set it apart from its more prominent neighbors as well as to have fun.

Judging plates are ready for the first entries.

Clayton BBQ Challenge: More Than Barbecue

General admission tickets started at $35 and provided access to unlimited beer samples from more than 15 N.C. breweries. In addition to craft beer sampling, the festivities included food trucks, live music, and BBQ-related vendor booths. 

Optimus Swine, grand champion of the cookoff, posted this photo of their chicken entry on their Facebook page. Photo: Optimus Swine.

Held in the town’s municipal park, the event was sponsored by the Downtown Development Association. In the cookoff sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, 17 teams competed for the $7,500 in prize money. Many teams were well-known and are perennial finalists for national honors each year.

The Off the Rack BBQ Competition Cooking Team took first place in the pork category. Photo: Ready Roofing Company via Facebook.

From all accounts, the inaugural cookoff sets a great example for future events to duplicate. Let’s hope that Clayton continues to develop a barbecue tradition that it can be proud of.

More Barbecue in Greenwood, SC

A part of the prize money is reserved for the people’s choice contest. Rather than certified judges picking the winners, the festival attendees are in charge. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.

One of my favorite locations for judging barbecue contests sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society is Greenwood, SC. The city and its residents fully support this contest, known as the BBQ and Blues Festival of Discovery. It is the premier event sponsored by local development officials, and the music scene and other entertainment activities are amazing. 

Although blues music was playing at several venues during the festival, the big attraction was barbecue. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.

Begun in 2000, the festival celebrates local history, culture, arts, crafts, music, and food — and barbecue takes over Main Street, the main thoroughfare of the city’s business community, throughout the weekend. 

Food vendors arrive early to prepare for the crowds. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.

Cooking teams as well as mobile food vendors congregate on this main artery, which is closed for the weekend, as crowds stroll by to observe the cooking teams, enjoy good food available for sale, and listen to groups performing on several stages. 

The winning team was from Pennsylvania. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.

This year 76 competition teams vied for $19,850 in prize money. Chunky BBQ of Harrisburg, Pa., was the runaway winner and took home the check for $3,000 for being the grand champion. In second place was QMeisters from Evans, Ga., which also easily outdistanced the other competitors. 

The turn-in table was well-staffed with volunteers from the city's Fire Rescue Department. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.

At the table where I was a judge, we were impressed by all the entries that we sampled, particularly the pork ribs. One of the benefits of being a competition judge is to be able to bite into the best barbecue — whether it’s ribs, pork, chicken, or brisket. 

 

The sound of silence can be heard throughout the room as the judges concentrate on their tasks. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.  

Although judges are prohibited by KCBS rules from taking pictures during an event when they are judging, evidently those rules don’t apply to the organizers. Several pictures of the judging activities are included in the album of photos taken by Laura Brown Photography for the festival that is on Facebook.

Greenwood is the only event where I've been photographed during judging (third from left). Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook. 

This year’s event was the third time that I had judged in Greenwood. The other contests in 2019 and 2022 were equally well organized. Because the festival is such a premier event, it’s easy to understand why teams and judges want to be in Greenwood and participate in the cookoff.

Bubbles the Seahorse is one of the many topiaries that adorned the downtown area of Greenwood. Photo: Laura Brown Photography, 2023 Festival of Discovery album on Facebook.

Inaugural Barbecue Competition in Pinehurst, NC

Historic hangars were part of the scenery for the event.

Finally, a barbecue contest about ten minutes from my home! For years, I have been traveling several hundred miles for the enjoyment of judging at events sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Less than a third have been within a few hours of my home in North Carolina. Most have required overnight stays near the location of the contest, particularly when I have judged at events in Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, and New York.

Judges met in a conference room at the airport.

Smokin' in the Pines

Traveling to events is fun and often takes me to places that I wouldn’t ordinarily visit. I never thought that judging in my hometown would be possible and was surprised when KCBS announced plans for the inaugural Smokin’ in the Pines in Pinehurst, NC. The contest site at the county airport is less than seven miles from my home. 

Cooking teams set up on the airport tarmac near parked aircraft.

I immediately applied to judge. Because Bob Johanns, the contest organizer, confirmed early that I would participate, I was able to look forward to this contest several weeks in advance. In the event, 24 teams competed for the $15,000 in prize money, a sizeable sum for an inaugural event. One Eyed Pig BBQ from South Carolina was the grand champion. Placing in second and capturing reserve grand champions honors was Redneck Scientific.

Bob Johanns, contest organizer, with Doug Reid and Alan Rockroth, KCBS representatives. Photo: Smokin' in the Pines via Facebook.

First Tee—Sandhills

Typical for many KCBS contests, this event raised funds for a charity relevant to the local community. Pinehurst is known for its golf culture, and proceeds from the contest benefited First Tee—Sandhills, a youth development organization that empowers kids and teens through the game of golf. It creates learning experiences that build their inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience through its junior golf programs. 

Joe Frye and his band entertain the crowd.

A large crowd enjoyed the music, other entertainment, and being part of the scene with barbecue as its main focus. Because this year’s Smokin’ in the Pines was so successful, the organizers should bring it back again next year, and I hope can participate. The easy drive was just what I needed.

Prizes before being presented to the winners at the award ceremony. Photo: Smokin' in the Pines via Facebook.

Grand champion was the One Eyed Pig BBQ Team. Photo: Smokin' in the Pines via Facebook.