ENTERING MY FIRST BBQ CONTEST

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I recommend this experience to everyone. Find a local contest, grab some buds, throw the smoker and a cooler full of meat and adult beverages in the truck and have a blast and meet some great folks.
 
good job on placing , im sure it was a great experience ..now that its over would you have done anything different? On Pit masters last night when they did whole birds everyone injected the breast to keep them from drying out.
 
I brined our birds, so I don't think moisture was the problem. We were graded down on appearance, and I noticed that most of our competitors used chicken parts for the judges. Obviously, I was cutting my own birds while they were very hot and their birds were all professionally butchered and cooked cut, so they had nicely finished edges. I'm thinking of trying parts next time.

We also lost points on flavor. I don't know if it was because they didn't like our rub, which might have been a little too peppery or our brine, which had rosemary and sage. We'll tweak things one at a time til we get it right.
 
Great job @djsmokesupreme  ! An award at your first comp is very impressive!

I'm down here in Gainesville i wish i would have heard about this event maybe i could have come up and helped ya out or competed myself.

As a few have said before with BBQ comps they are looking for uniformity in your turn-ins. But I did the Fernandina Rib Cookoff and they had a optional chicken comp, so i did my standard competition turn in (thighs) but people were doing chicken wings, whole chickens, boneless breasts, etc... Non-sanctioned events offer more flexibility.

Congrats again!

Also a shameless plug....you should come check out our South Florida Gathering (not so far south anymore) http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/160459/2014-south-florida-gathering-november-7-9
 
smokesupreme,

a little late but congrats on the ribs in your first comp. I was there as well and got 2nd in ribs. Its an awesome feeling winning an award in a comp especially in your first. I took 2nd in pork in my first comp at the FL/GA cookoff a few years ago and it got me hooked to compete a lot more. You def need to enter the fernandina rib cook off. Before you know it you will be searching the FBA for backyard divisions and you will be traveling the state. Keep smoking
 
 
smokesupreme,

a little late but congrats on the ribs in your first comp. I was there as well and got 2nd in ribs. Its an awesome feeling winning an award in a comp especially in your first. I took 2nd in pork in my first comp at the FL/GA cookoff a few years ago and it got me hooked to compete a lot more. You def need to enter the fernandina rib cook off. Before you know it you will be searching the FBA for backyard divisions and you will be traveling the state. Keep smoking
GolfPro were you at the Rib Cookoff this year?
 
I wasn't I took another job late last year and missed the FL/GA and the rib cook off. I am back at my old job now so I have all the time in the world. I saw that you put that they had a brisket and butts competition in October. You have any more info on that?
 
 
I wasn't I took another job late last year and missed the FL/GA and the rib cook off. I am back at my old job now so I have all the time in the world. I saw that you put that they had a brisket and butts competition in October. You have any more info on that?
Goto there website and they have a tab for the Brisket & Butts
 
Congrats on your 2nd place finish. You're right about how easy it is to get hooked on competition. I'm ready to go again!

I'm definitely planning to enter the FL/GA competition, and I think I'd like to try Briskets and butts, too.
 
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