tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74538574413193256222024-03-13T11:22:33.561-07:00BBQ RamblingsA middle aged guys journey into the world of competition BBQ. Starting as a fan, progresssing to certified BBQ judge, master Judge, and Pit master of our own Championship team with my wife and family, Team Top Chick.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-25548929170299173382011-06-16T11:53:00.000-07:002011-06-16T11:55:37.830-07:00Jerry Jeff Walker Pick Up Truck Song<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RWK8GgWD4uA?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
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A little song for Fathers Day. For all the Dads and Grand Dads and their Pick Up Trucks.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-70549763643884320932011-06-07T18:10:00.000-07:002011-06-07T18:10:56.299-07:00JudgesWell I decided to test my theory that judges are now afraid to talk to cook teams This past weekend in Lewisburg I sat outside my trailer on the path leading to the judging tent where they were feeding cooks and judges supper on Friday afternoon /night..Several walked by., I know they were judges cause they had badges and pins, lots of pins,. I greeted each warmly, "Hello, How are you? where you from? Hope you get something good to eat tomorrow, hope it's mine". Most only managed a weak "Hi"as they kept their head down and kept walking. One however did say in response to my wish that he get something good to eat and it be mine, "you may not know this, but we don't know who's BBQ we are eating, we really don't ." "Do you know anything about judging" he asked me. Well I was a master judge before I started cooking, I said. "oh well i guess you do know what we do" he said.Not one had enough interest to ask about our cooker, meat or anything else.As I have said before they (The Judges) just run in their own pack now, largely oblivious to the cooks around them. Sometimes I think we would be just as well off to just load the bus down at the nursing home and bring them on down on Saturday morning....ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-42065730300723343782011-06-05T18:48:00.000-07:002011-06-05T20:45:46.633-07:00OK ,why do I do it?I just got in from a contest in Lewisburg TN., where I got my ass kicked. I'm sore, tired, it was in the mid 90's, it cost money that should be going into an IRA or college fund, and I arrogantly felt I should finish in the top three. So why bother? A question I ask as we hurriedly drive off after awards. A good shower and night's sleep can put it in perspective.<br />
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From a broad perspective, it's small town America at at it's best, a bunch of hard working volunteers, and a few local sponsors coming together to do something nice for their local community and raise a little money for some good causes. They succeeded: good music, good food, cool vendors, balloon rides, jumping tents, and a mechanical bull. What else could you possibly need?<br />
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But what about me? I mean after all my wife and girls didn't make this trip (for the first time ever none of them went). Have they outgrown it? Should I take up golf, like normal people my age do?<br />
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First it was a chance to spend a weekend with my oldest son Russell. To make up for some of the lost time when I was too busy chasing my job and too tired when I was at home.Russell didn't have it as easy as my other children for many reasons. He has grown into a fine young man that I am very proud of and truly enjoy spending time with. I am honored that he wants to do this with me now. The fact that he is highly competitive, has a great sense of taste, and builds turn in boxes that get near perfect appearance scores is just a plus.<br />
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I also got to take two young men from our church that have a genuine desire to learn about BBQ and aren't afraid to work. They used the "mentor' word, which is scary, and put up with my bitchy Saturday morning contest attitude. They said they had a ball, learned a lot, and thanked me?<br />
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The friends I have missed seeing, Bill and Nina, a retired couple that used to compete as Bill and the Dixie Chicks were in the area came by to see some of their old BBQ friends. That was cool.<br />
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The General Porkticioners, one of the first BBQ teams I became friends with when I started judging, reunited for this event, two truck drivers and a medical doctor. This was the first time they had all been together in years and their comeback was successful with several good calls.<br />
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The Tolens, Jim and Jim Jr., Butts Bellies and Buddies I and II. Father and Son, sometimes they cook together sometimes they cook separate, but they always have a good time and are a pleasure to be around. Jim Sr. builds some of the most beautiful hand crafted BBQ pits anywhere.With pride he told us the story of the chrome rail on the pit and how it was originally attached to the back of a fire truck that he held on to as he rode to fires as a young fireman in the1960's.<br />
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Jiggy Piggy who would win Reserve Grand, Bob and Steve are great cooks and more importantly great people. They go at each other all the time, but you know there is a deep friendship and respect there.<br />
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Pete Moon of Bean Bandits, cooks alone, builds his own cookers, and has the best designed BBQ trailer in the game. He has a great engineering mind. He is a friend that will loan you anything you need and probably has it. NASA calls him when they need some spare parts for the shuttle. He came so close to his first grand with a third place finish. I want to be around to see his first grand. When it happens it will be a popular win, Pete has a lot of friends and respect on the circuit.<br />
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Brenda and Terry, alias Buck and Lou of High on the Hog, it was their day! Grand Champion with a bang! So good to see them do well after what they have been through.<br />
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Breakfast at Goobys BBQ. Jan and Bill Davis,two of the nicest people on the circuit have a tradition of cooking breakfast for their neighbors on contest Saturday mornings, and what a breakfast it is. I am so glad they got some good calls. <br />
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And finally the last group to mention were the loud, drunk yuppies attempting their first ever contest that were set up next to us. I mention them only because it is said that a good teacher teaches with examples and contrasts. I told my two young apprentices, everyone else you have met here represents the best and why we do competition BBQ, but here is the exception. Or as my friend the late Terrell Jones often said 'I've met about 10,000 good people in BBQ and about two assholes."<br />
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So lets clean up the stuff, restock the trailer and get ready to go again.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-78022212780295512082011-05-16T19:01:00.000-07:002011-05-16T19:01:19.087-07:00Our audition video for Pit Masters<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/10964297?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/10964297">Team Top Chick</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3520436">Kyle Evans</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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OK, here it is , our audition video for last years Pit Masters show. Good thing I didn't quit my day job....ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-25033590991075438452011-05-11T09:49:00.000-07:002011-05-11T17:25:27.035-07:00Lynn and Dot Bruce Part 2One day Lynn and Dot were traveling down a straight stretch of interstate at near warp speed , headed to judge a BBQ contest. Running parrellel to the interstate was a county road with some houses on it. One of these houses was having a big yard sale. The ever eagle eyed Bruce's spotted a large stuffed chicken in the yard sale goods and decided it would make a prefect mascot for Team Top Chick. They had to drive several miles farther to find an exit. Finally the big Lincoln was slowed and turned down the county road. (I suspect an illegal median crossing may have been involved). The stuffed chicken was purchased and promptly delivered to us at the contest. They were so excited, and the to hear them tell the story was hilarious. That chicken has made every trip with Team Top Chick since.<br />
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My fourth and most likely final trip to Charleston, was one I never wanted to make. In September 2006, Dot died unexpectedly with a heart attack. We attended her memorial and learned about an other side of Dot we didn't know from school mates and local friends. Even among the sadness there was humor. Lynn told us the story of he and Dot discussing a friend who's spouse had passed away and if they had started dating again. Lynn said "Dot if anything happened to me, how long do you think you would wait before you started dating?" and Dot said "Hell, I'd probably bring a date to your funeral". That was classic Dot.<br />
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Lynn moved back to Dyersburg and the Charleston contest was no more. Though he remained somewhat active in the BBQ community, we saw him less in the southeast. I strongly regret that I did not keep in better contact with him. Then in August 2010 we got the word that Lynn too had passed away with a heart attack.<br />
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If you knew them, then I'm sure you have great memories also. If you didn't ,then you missed out on two very special people, that make our BBQ community the unique and wonderful place it is.....ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-75911627212869591832011-05-10T14:28:00.000-07:002011-05-16T19:26:05.673-07:00Lynn and Dot Bruce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cU7O7UZ-4Y/TdHclNNiFcI/AAAAAAAAAAk/_0jweg55yw0/s1600/Lyn+and+Dot+Bruce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cU7O7UZ-4Y/TdHclNNiFcI/AAAAAAAAAAk/_0jweg55yw0/s320/Lyn+and+Dot+Bruce.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've been to Charleston Mo. four times in my life. It's not a destination town or a place you pass through on the way to somewhere else. Each trip was directly attributable to my friendship with Lynn and Dot Bruce. Dot was raised in small-town Charleston society, and was devoted to her Philanthropic causes . Lynn was a farm boy from east Tennessee and a former Airborne Ranger. Although it might appear to be an odd pairing, they sure seemed to make it work. When they decided to become KCBS BBQ judges , they didn't just slip quietly into the world of competition BBQ, they attacked it with passion! They traveled extensively to judge contests all over, and our paths began to cross and great friendship began.<br />
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Soon Lynn and Dot were planning to have a KCBS contest in Charleston and everyone must come.That's right, they invited you again and a again, then they just told you that you were coming. It was very hard to say no to them. Their event would be a cookers and judges event. It wasn't about the community , the public, fundraising, music or arts and crafts. It was about having their friends come to their home and have a contest. It would be held at The Boom Town RV park, plenty of water and power, decent money, nice trophies, solid dependable Reps, great teams and experienced judges ( most or which came from along way away) and outstanding hospitality. The contests were a reflection of the Bruce's personality, direct, to the point, no pretense no fluff, but a lot of fun. There would be three of them 2004, 05 and 06. I judged the first one, by 2005 we had started our team and cooked the second one, then Nancy, Trent and I judged the last one. The number of teams they had at each event was truly amazing, I believe it was 45 teams the first year, 50 something the second yeat and 68 the last year. Also, consider at least one event was on Easter weekend and that many of these teams came from 300 plus miles away. I don't have a lot of sympthy for organizers that complain that they can't get people to come to their event unless I think they worked as hard as Lynn and Dot did.<br />
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One of my most pleasant memories in BBQ will always be sitting on the back veranda of Lynn and Dot's beautiful victorian home on Sunday morning after the contest drinking coffe with Dot, Lynn and the Barron of BBQ, Paul Kirk. Good times....ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-3990915601857854142011-05-04T14:22:00.000-07:002011-05-04T14:22:34.834-07:00Judging was a lot of fun.....I achieved Master Judge status in two years back then there weren't near as many KCBS contests in the southeast. We were allowed to count MIM and FBA contests toward our 30. I took the training class for their contests so I could Judge them. I really enjoy the on site Judging at a Memphis style contest. I made a lot of great friends in both the Judges world as well as the cook teams. Mark Delashaw, Bill Boggs Randy and Carol Biggler , Mickey Williams, Vicky and Steve Owenby to name a few Judges, all became great friends. <br />
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The KCBS reps, Ron Harwell, the Braziers, Tony Stone, Stephen Smith, and others. All top noch at what they do, and good friends.<br />
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Back then, the only family member that traveled with me was oldest daughter Anna. The whole BBQ community adopted her like family and helped look after her while I was judging. I guess she was paying attention.<br />
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Two highlights of my judging career was judging the Jack and on site Memphis in May (Big Bob Gipson).<br />
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Of course during this time is when I met Terrell Jones....... but he will get his on story ..or two...or three... when I am ready to tell them....ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-51852395789903639692011-05-03T18:05:00.000-07:002011-05-03T18:13:31.497-07:00BBQ judging was different back then....When I started judging I got to know both my fellow judges and the cook teams. Usually on Friday nights I would wonder around the cook sites talking to teams and often as not sampling their Friday night supper. .This was great fun. This was how I got to be friends with folks like the Swifts, Bob Fite, Steve Blake, Byron, The Porkticioners (Don, Stick, and Dr. Chris), all the Weddingtons, the McWrights, Governor, Paradise Ridge, the Tollens, JC, Pete, and so many others. I think interaction between judges and cook team is very important and good.<br />
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Then somebody changed the rules and now judges act like they are afraid to speak to cooks. In fact after cooking for eight years , I hardly know any new judges. They just run in their own pack.<br />
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Let me say this; Not once did I ever see or learn anything while visiting a cook that would allow me to identify their entry and show preferential treatment. Hell, I don't even think I could pick out my own entry out on a judging table.<br />
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If you want to see more unity and a healthier KCBS, this needs to go back to the old way.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-12378649092065870372011-05-03T14:25:00.000-07:002011-05-03T14:37:00.237-07:00a little explaination and where we are going next....Well there is a pretty big gap between my beginnings in competition BBQ, when I quit posting two years ago and my latest post talking about our most reccent contest, the 24th Annual High on the Hog contest in Winchester Tn. What I pledge to do this year is keep this thing current of what we are doing now as well as slowely catch up most of what we have done in competition BBQ, the people we have met and the places we have been over the past ten or so years.<br /><br />Next on our schedule of events is the very fine contest in Rome Ga. This will be a second year for this event and it is a good one. Great location and organizer, lots of community support. But I suppose what really makes it special to us is that we were fortunate enough to win Grand champion there last year, barely beating out Bubba-Que and Two Men and a Pig.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-54695086455864164132011-04-26T06:38:00.001-07:002011-04-26T06:38:23.804-07:002011 season begins<span xmlns=''><p>Winchester Tennessee, High on the Hog BBQ contest, April 15 and 16, 2011<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>Team Top Chick<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents – except at occasional intervals when it was checked by a violent gust of wind…."<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>What a beginning to a BBQ contest report? That is the way Team Top Chick began the 2011 season, participating in the 24<sup>th</sup> annual High on the Hog BBQ contest, put on by the Civitan club of Winchester.<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>This event has long been a favorite of ours for many reasons. First the location is a beautiful city park on the lake. Then consider the contest itself just a part of a huge community event, complete with a carnival, beauty contest, music, and much more, usually attracting large crowds. Finally the unbeatable hospitality the good folks of Winchester show to the BBQ teams.<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>In fact everything was lovely except the weather. On Friday night much of the South East was hit with deadly tornadoes and damaging winds, while in Winchester the wind blew hard and the rain came down, we were spared the worst of it. Hats off to the EMA folks at the event that kept us informed and stood ready to evacuate us should the need arise.<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>Bad weather did not keep this contest from being a sell out with 54 of the finest BBQ teams in America including names like Lotta Bull, Butt Rub, Jiggy Piggy, Swiggin Pig and Do-Rag Que in attendance.<br /></p><p>Being our first event of the year we were anxious to visit with all of our old friends but the weather was not conducive to our normal socializing. <br /></p><p>Everyone was very excited to see we had a new sponsor in Moore's Marinade .<br /></p><p>Despite the weather our cook was uneventful and we had confidence in all of our entries.<br /></p><p>At the end of the day we were pleased to walk away from awards with Top Ten calls in both brisket and Ribs and a solid 16<sup>th</sup> place overall finish out of the 54 outstanding teams competing. <br /></p><p>We had a great time and won enough money to get home and buy some stuff for the next challenge.<br /></p><p>We hope to see you all on the BBQ trail soon.<br /></p></span>ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-34342541747578656472009-02-14T14:03:00.000-08:002009-02-14T14:15:37.938-08:00Being a Certified BBQ judgeWinchester Tn. was the first contest I would judge. Here I got to meet Fred and Linda Gould, two of the really great people in BBQ. Her I learned what a community BBQ contest was all about. Next I would judge Huntsville. I was obsessed with getting my 30 to become a master judge as quickly as possible. Later I would take judge training for MIM and the FBA. Back then It was nothing for me to drive five hours one way, judge a contest then drive home. Along the way I would meet many great people like Terrill Jones.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-24846698289990315102008-07-13T09:32:00.000-07:002008-07-13T10:35:16.802-07:00KCBS Judging SchoolI think I lost about a year after my first Demopolis contest. I kept getting the BBQ News paper, cooking at home, we went to the Decatur contest, the Jack, and Demopolis again, getting to know all of the a fore mentioned characters better. I had signed up for a KCBS judging school to be held in Huntsville Al. and taught by Ronnie Harwell.<br /><br />What a great experience it was. Dr. Harwell does an excellent job of teaching the class and is an outstanding ambassador for KCBS. He told me about the BBQ Forum and I have been a regular ever since. As I remember Bobbie and Lee McWright, Blindog, Mark Delashaw,and Randy and Carol Bigler were involved. Mickey Williams, Bill Boggs were fellow students. I knew these were my kind of folks. As of March 16, 2002 I was a KCBS member and Certified Judge . Mickey and I were in a race to see who could make master judge first. He would beat me by a considerable amount, none the less, By July 30, 2004 at Lebanon I would get my Master Judge certificate. My 30th contest would actually be Winchester 2004 which was also my first contest to judge in 2002.<br /><br />Now I was a rookie KCBS judge in search of a contest and Winchester was in my sights.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-65761804115530374542008-07-11T20:04:00.000-07:002008-07-11T20:17:42.201-07:00Demopolis AlThis was back when Demopolis was an MIM event. Demopolis in December is generally wet, cold or both. Here I continued my visit with Joe and Carlene of The National BBQ news. I subscribed to the paper and bought a book by Ric Browne. I also met BBQ luminaries Ron Harwell, David Roper and Rocky Danner. Great guys that greatly accelerated my BBQ education. For years, I thought it was a law that at least two of them had to be at any contest held.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-41207654831070790162008-07-11T16:36:00.000-07:002008-07-11T17:24:49.684-07:00More of how going to the Jack & meeting the Phelps changed my life.Joe and Carlene were so nice to me. They told me about how they had ran a community news paper for many years, retired, got into competition BBQ, realized the need for a BBQ news paper and started the National BBQ News. Joe told me this great story about how they had bought an expensive off-set smoker, had a nice motor home, were set up at this contest, feeling smug and confident when this poor little guy showed up in a rusted out Pinto station wagon, drug out three Weber's and proceeded to kick their ass. This story would resonate with me in our future endeavors. They told me about an MIM competition in Demopolis coming up in December that I should go to. They also told me I should become a BBQ judge as a good way to get involved. Great advise to anyone wanting to get started.<br /><br />Also at the Jack that year I met Robert Worsley and Bad Byron Chism of the world famous ButtRub Team. We bought some rub and stuff they were selling. Robert was very nice and Byron probably said something like "go away kid , you bother me". Seriously, both of those guys have gone on to become great friends.<br /><br />Now I had been a backyard terror for many years, wearing out several ECBs, but I knew I had stepped into another dimension and couldn't wait for the next step.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-78776319387854825542008-07-10T16:33:00.000-07:002008-07-10T16:54:38.223-07:00The Jack!The first contest I ever attended was the Jack. I was completely blown away. The smokers, the rigs, the teams were too much to absorb. I boldly went up to various teams and began asking questions. Little did I realize I was interfering with with the most important event in the world for these teams. It is truly a wonder that no one punched me out. Actually everyone was pretty decent to me. Then I spotted the BBQ News motor home. I went over and picked up a complimentary copy of the BBQ News. This is so cool I thought, BBQ has it's own newspaper. Soon I would meet the proprietors of the paper, Joe and Carlene Phelps, two of the nicest people in the world. They could could see how fired up I was and invited me into their motor home. There they told me all bout the world of competitive BBQ.<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"></span>ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453857441319325622.post-9100241260605424492008-07-06T18:45:00.000-07:002008-07-06T18:57:29.006-07:00In the Beginning.....Several years ago, maybe eight or nine, my brother-in-law invited us to go to the Jack Daniels invitational world championship BBQ contest. I quickly thought this involves BBQ and whiskey, sure I'll go. This decision would forever alter my life in a very positive manner. In this blog I will attempt to tell our story of how the crazy world of competition BBQ has became our hobby, passion and community.ron montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13627390598739428942noreply@blogger.com0