Winter Haven Smoke on the Water Was Rockin’!
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I had the pleasure of judging this year’s Winter Haven Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition organized by Frank and Janet Cosmos to benefit the Citrus Center Boys And Girls Club, Inc of Winter Haven, Lake Wales and Haines City.
Some 76 Competition BBQ Teams had their BBQ Smoker “sites” up and running for this event (55 Pro Teams and 21 Backyard Cookers). If you haven’t been to this event, you need to put it on your calendar for next year. Myron Mixon consistently ranks the Winter Haven Smoke on the Water competition among his top 2 favorite annual cooks, and for good reason. The work Frank and Janet do, along with the reps from the Florida Bar-B-Que Association, is just off the charts awesome.
Now… to the good stuff!
2012 Winter Haven Smoke on the Water Pro Results
Grand Champion Award: Big Papa’s Country Kitchen
Photo Credit: Florida Bar-B-Que Association
This year, Grand Champion honors went to none other than Dana and Janet Hillis and their Big Papa’s Country Kitchen BBQ Team. Dana is the current sitting FBA President and is a force to be reckoned with both from a ‘cue skills standpoint and just because he’s one hell of a great human being. Always eager to greet strangers and friends with the same infectious smile and bear paw hand shake, you won’t find a more open and friendly representative of what the spirit of competition BBQ is about anywhere.
Reserve Grand Champion Award: Forrest’s Fine Foods
Photo Credit: Florida Bar-B-Que Association
Reserve Grand Champion Honors went to Forrest Dilmore of Forrest’s Fine Foods BBQ Team. I know that winning a BBQ Smoker Competition has little to do with one’s character or personality directly, but dang it – I’m just so happy that RGC went to such a hands down great man as Forrest. Again, walk up to his cook site during a competition, say hi, and get ready for a warm greeting. As our most recent past President of the FBA, you can see between him and Dana why the leadership, direction, and guidance of our association is so strong.
Top 10 Results from This Year’s Winter Haven Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition
The 2012 Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition results are listed as follows:
- Big Papa’s Country Kitchen
- Forrest’s Fine Foods
- Bubba Chuck (Imperial Polk County, Baby!)
- Team Unknown (Imperial Polk County, Baby!) *
- Sho Gud BBQ
- Uncle Kenny’s BBQ
- Hot Wachula’s(Imperial Polk County, Baby!)
- GB’s BBQ
- Git-R-Smoked
- Wooley Bully BBQ Mafia
Complete results for this cook can be found here.
SPECIAL SUPER IMPORTANT BBQ SMOKER SITE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
* Special Mention Goes Out to Chris Whitcomb (AKA Dorsey Odell) of the Team Unknown BBQ crew. Dorsey’s been in a bit of a slump of late with his Brisket. It happens to all men of a certain age… and it is nothing to be ashamed of.
I want to say right here and right now that in no way does Dorsey’s inability to bring it home in the brisket category impact the wondrous joy he continues to spread around to his friends and loved ones.
So – it is with great honor that I announce to the entire readership of the BBQ Smoker Site that Mr. Dorsey MF Odell took FIRST PLACE in the Brisket Category at this year’s Winter Haven Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition! Raise Hell Dorsey! Them bastards’ll never catch you now, brother! (Click here for a musical Tribute to the Florida Bar-B-Que Association by the one and only Dorsey Odell.)
SUPER SPECIAL TOP LEVEL IMPORTANCE BBQ SMOKER SITE ANNOUNCEMENT
(Caution – what you are about to see may not be apprpriate for some viewers!!!! Viewer discretion is advised!)
I could not resist pointing you all to this underground video taken by a here to fore unnamed videographer embedded within the Team Unknown BBQ camp during the Friday night setup at this year’s Smoke on the Water event.
Please understand that this video footage was smuggled out of the Team Unknown BBQ camp at great risk. Whatever you do, please do not share it with anyone, less the parties involved be exposed to great harm.
What you are about to see after the jump (here’s the link) will astound and amaze you. Go there now. You will not believe your eyes!
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The 2011 Pig on the Pond BBQ Competition in Cleremont, Florida was a huge success, especially for member of Unknown BBQ and Uncle Kenny’s BBQ, who took Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion honors.
Unknown BBQ – Grand Champion 2011 Pig on the Pond
Uncle Kenny’s BBQ – Reserve Grand Champion 2011 Pig on the Pond
There were 30 Pro Division BBQ cook team in attendance, including perennial favorites like Whiskey Bent BBQ, Git R Smoked, Florida Skin-n-Bones, Forrest’s Fine Foods, Big Papa’s Country Kitchen, and Hot Wachula’s to name just a few. Competing in the 4 main categories of Chicken, Pork, Ribs, and Brisket – the ranking for this year’s Pig on the Pond BBQ competition was a follows:
Rank |
Team |
| 1. | Unknown BBQ |
| 2. | Uncle Kenny’s BBQ |
| 3. | Budmeisters |
| 4. | Florida Skin-n-Bones |
| 5. | Suwannee River Smokers |
| 6. | Forrest’s Fine Foods |
| 7. | Big Papa’s Country Kitchen |
| 8. | Whiskey Bent BBQ |
| 9. | Git R Smoked |
| 10. | Wolfe Brothers BBQ |
| 11. | GB’s BBQ |
| 12. | Hot Wachula’s |
| 13. | Florida Boys |
| 14. | Big Bad Wolf BBQ |
| 15. | Kick the Tire, Light the Fire |
| 16. | Matt Daddy’s BBQ |
| 17. | Grillin’ Gangsters |
| 18. | Superior Smokers |
| 19. | Smoke on the Lakes |
| 20. | BBQ Shack |
| 21. | C.J.’S Cookin Co. |
| 22. | Smokeys |
| 23. | 352 BBQ |
| 24. | EB’s Pit Stop Barbecue |
| 25. | High Voltage |
| 26. | Nobody’s BBQ |
| 27. | Gator Grates |
| 28. | Mount Dora Bar-B-Que Company |
| 29. | Clermont Cayotes |
| 39. | Down Yonder Bar-B-Q |
Individual category scores for each protein can be found on the Florida Bar-B-Que Association contest website.
As you can see from the photos below, the crowds in attendance were massive, and appetites for BBQ and family fun were running high. As is the case with most BBQ competitions, this one is for charity – specifically, “for the kids.” Now in its 13th year, Pig on the Pond raised $62,000 last year for children’s educational scholarship money. Judging from the number of people I saw in attendance, they’ll meet or exceed this total for 2011.
Big Papa’s Country Kitchen vending to a huge crowd.
Packed house at the 2011 Pig on the Pond BBQ Festival
Whiskey Bent BBQ wasn’t vending, but they still set up in style!
Brian from Uncle Kenny’s BBQ tends the smoker – crowd wants more ribs!
The infamous Dorsey Odell (left) of Unknown BBQ discusses his plans to break out the “big beard” during awards.
Matt Barber of Hot Wachula’s poses next to his authentic Civil War Era smoker.
Full Frontal of Matt Barber’s “Hot Wachula” er… Civil War Era Smoker. Note the Surtape on top!
Rear-end view of Matt’s “Hot Wachla’s” smoker. Yup – that’s magnetic heat resistant tape for the damper.
Effinheimer Ale at Pig on the Pond – A Saving Grace among the typical Bud.
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