kcbs

Episode 231 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast was to be an American Royal special, reviewing the event and visiting with the Grand Champion of the Open. But major technical issues delayed the awards and has prompted KCBS CEO Rod Gray to initiate a full audit of all the scoring before results are made official. This has caused quite the stir and understandably so. Rod has said he will come on the show and explain all, once the situation is resolved - or resolved the best it can be. Stay tuned. Look for a special edition of the show with Rod Gray later this week or next.

Meanwhile, we carry on with a terrific conversation with one of the biggest names in southern BBQ. It’s Carey Bringle, the Peg Leg Porker has been competing, cooking BBQ and entertaining the masses for a quarter century. He’s a renowned entrepreneur who has restaurants, a spirits company, and a retail clothing & food products company. He’s written books on how to master fire and smoke, including the acclaimed BBQ for Dummies. Recently, Carey’s Peg Leg Porker restaurant in Nashville was named by Southern Living magazine as one of the South’s top 50 BBQ restaurants. Carey also weighs in on the apparent end of Memphis in May on the riverfront at Tom Lee Park.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve wrap things up by talking a little sports and what’s ahead on their grills.  

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The American Royal World Series of BBQ is special to many pitmasters, none more so than Darren Warth. A three-time American Royal Open Grand Champion with his Iowa Smokey D’s BBQ, Darren is ready to chase No. 4 this weekend when more than 500 teams converge on Kansas Speedway for the world’s biggest BBQ competition. The man known as the “GOAT” for his two-decade run of success also will be inducted into the BBQ Hall of Fame on Saturday, making it even more special. On Episode 230 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Darren about the upcoming weekend and reflect a bit on his career, the restaurant business and why he’s never been interested in teaching a BBQ class.

We also talk it over with Joe Gera, owner of Keystone Que in Pittsburgh. Joe has celiac disease, a serious and potentially deadly disorder for those who consume gluten through cross contamination in the kitchen. Joe has a book coming out soon titled “From Scratch With Love, Professional Gluten-Free Home Cooking.” He discusses healthy eating and how to keep enjoying quality BBQ, even with a celiac disorder and about his Carolina-inspired BBQ sauces.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their BBQ weeks and preview the Tailgate Guys BBQ team’s upcoming trip to The Royal.  

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It’s always a blast to talk open-fire cooking with BBQ Hall of Famer Ray Lampe, better known as “Dr. BBQ.” This is especially true as the American Royal World Series of BBQ nears and on Episode 229 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Ray tells us about what makes the American Royal so special for him, talks Turkey Smoke and gives his thoughts on some of the Class of 2023 BBQ Hall of Famers. Ray also gives us a rundown of his recent trip to Wales where BBQ has become a mainstream way of culinary life. Even the beer is cold these days in Europe.

The American Royal theme continues as director of communications Allyssa King and event manager Kayci Vincent give us a preview of what the 500-plus teams and BBQ enthusiasts coming out to Kansas Speedway can expect as the world’s biggest BBQ event is held next week.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also break down their cooking weeks, including the ongoing Tailgate Guys BBQ competition team’s continuing preparation for The Royal.  

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Richard Fergola has accomplished a lot of awesome things in competition barbecue, but had never won his hometown KCBS event. That all changed last weekend as Fergolicious BBQ earned Grand Championship honors at Smokin’ on the Trails in Gardner, Kansas. On Episode 228 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with “Fergie” about that, plus plans for a huge day of food, fun and BBQ knowledge that Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions has on tap Friday, Sept. 29 at the American Royal World Series of BBQ. 

We also welcome Norris Sydnor back to the show after Baltimore-based Good Googly Goo - a Tailgate Guys BBQ Show “Under the Radar” alum - kicked off what Syd is calling the Triple G Ugly Tour with a $10,000 Grand Championship last week at the Primo BBQ Bash in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Syd has mapped out an ambitious schedule over the next month and we ask him about that, plus Good Googly Goo’s pursuit of KCBS Chicken Team of the Year honors. 

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also break down their cooking weeks, including a review of the team’s performance at Smokin’ on the Trails.  

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 227 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk to the man behind the upcoming Saluting With Smoke BBQ Festival, Sept. 15-17 in Yorkville, Illinois. Sean Young, an Army veteran who is brutally honest about his life struggles after leaving the service in the early 2000s, formed Mission Zero Hundred Hours to help veterans deal with PTSD by connecting them with open-fire cooking. At Saluting With Smoke, five teams with four veterans apiece representing each brand of the military will be mentored by five top professional pitmasters - Sterling Smith, Chris Webb, Lee Hickel, Richard Fergola and Brad Leighninger - will compete for bragging rights. 

Would you trust your competition BBQ meat trimming to someone else, particularly those pesky and time-consuming chicken thighs? Aaron Huentelman is a butcher and competition meat manager at Mister Brisket in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Aaron and the team there are providing such a service, trimming and shipping to teams around the nation. He talks about the specifics, including skin-scraping and weights - and his background in competition BBQ with the team Go Big or Go BBQ. 

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also break down their cooking weeks and discuss the start of the NFL season as the Kansas City Chiefs are minus a couple of key players as their Super Bowl defense begins. Wherever you are, we send best wishes for a great BBQ Week! 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It might go down in competition BBQ history as the “Basted Triple” or whatever clever phrase you’d like to use. But if Brad Leighninger and Gettin’ Basted win a fourth KCBS Team of the Year, last weekend will be a big reason. On Episode 226 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Brad joins us to recap his remarkable feat of cooking a Friday-Saturday doubleheader at the Death’s Door Barbecue in northern Wisconsin, where he earned Grand Championship and RGC honors, then making a 12-hour haul to Paola, Kansas, for a Sunday Grand Championship at the Paola Roots Festival. The impressive three-day stretch helped solidify Gettin’ Basted’s Team of the Year lead. Brad also weighs in on a variety of other BBQ topics, including high-scoring and the difficulty of winning, how he deals with outlier results and some new restaurant projects in the works. 

With Labor Day Weekend ahead, we also check in with Kevin Green of The Butcher Shoppe about the state of the meat business, what’s been hot this summer and some under-the-radar cuts to add to your menu this fall. It’s also fun to visit with Kevin, one of the biggest supporters of our show and one of the most-important suppliers of high-quality briskets to competition and backyard cooks across the land.

Lyndal and Steve also break down their cooking weeks and throw in some sports talk as we big farewell to August and look forward to autumn. Wherever you are, we send best wishes for a great BBQ Week! 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Chris Davis of Crossed Rifles BBQ from Schertz, Texas, knocked down the Grand Championship at last weekend’s prestigious Red Raiders Challenge in Lubbock with a huge score of 713.16. We visit with the Marine Corps veteran on Episode 225 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast about his journey into competition BBQ, which he credits for helping him cope with PTSD from his time in the military. It’s a common theme for veterans who come on the show and Chris discusses why he thinks open-fire cooking resonates with them.

We go to north Texas for our other guest as Shane LeClair of Damn Yankee BBQ Texas joins us for our “Under the Radar” segment on up-and-coming teams. A transplanted New Yorker and avid Yankees fan, LeClair has been knocking on the door of his first KCBS Grand Championship in just his second year of competitive cooking. LeClair cooks out of one of the most-distinctive trailers on the circuit, wrapped in a distinctive Yankees them including a large illustration of Mickey Mantle swinging for the fences on the back.

Lyndal and Steve break down their cooking weeks and throw in some sports talk in the hot days of August. Wherever you are, we send best wishes for a great BBQ Week! 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 224 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, it’s a review of the KCBS World Invitational where it was a weekend to remember for Aaron and Christy Stoffer of Man Meat BBQ. Aaron joins me to talk about the team’s Grand Championship, worth $6,000, in the Invitational on Sunday one day after Man Meat scored a whopping 711.4 overall total but had to settle for Reserve Grand Champion behind Smoked & Furious BBQ’s record of 717.71. Aaron talks about his biggest championship to date, how confidence plays a big role in competition success and how the Man Meat BBQ line of rubs and sauces fit into the scheme of things.

We also pay tribute to the often-overlooked KCBS Backyard division as Alan Larrimore from Minnesota’s Wrecking Crew BBQ joins us to break down his team’s KCBS Invitational Backyard championship. Alan and wife Allison are retired Air Force veterans who found competition BBQ through an organization called Hometown Hero Outdoors, a non-profit that benefits and teaches veterans and first responders the art of open-fire cooking. Many, like the Larrimores, go on to compete and others get into the judging aspect. 

Meanwhile, Lyndal and Steve break down their cooking weeks with Steve discussing a Korean short rib process that sounds delicious. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 223 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a trip to southern California to visit with one of the top teams on the West Coast. It was quite a 48-hour period last week for B’ Mackin BBQ out of San Diego as the team got its first-ever draw into The Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational on Thursday and then won its first Grand Championship of 2023 on Saturday. Brett McKinney and Benny Watsman of B’Mackin BBQ join us to talk about the emotions and excitement, the background of the team and the challenges of competing on the West Coast, where competitions are not easy to find. 

Then we go “Under the Radar” with an up-and-coming team that’s yet to win a KCBS Master’s Series Grand Championship - but is closing in. Travis Farthing from Oklahoma’s Fine As Swine BBQ already has two Reserve Grands in 2023, plus overall finishes of third and fourth in just six competitions. Travis tells us the background of Fine As Swine, which he and wife Melissa oversee, while offering up advice to those considering jumping into competition Q. 

Meanwhile, co-host Lyndal Scranton reviews the Tailgate Guys BBQ team’s latest try at competition with a review of Que for a Cause in Tahlequah, Okla., and Steve Koehler talks about his latest backyard cooking adventures. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Richard Fergola has been on the competition BBQ grind, cooking three KCBS doubleheaders over the last three weekends. We discuss that mental aspect of that, plus much more with the pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ and Marketing/PR director of Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions on Episode 222 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. “Fergie” says even seasoned veterans like himself can be puzzled by scoring at times and says sometimes you just have to shake your head and move on. He gives us a rundown on the rebranding of his line of seasonings, an upcoming class this weekend he and Sterling Smith are teaching, a recent win for his pupil on The Country Network program BBQ Country and the latest news from Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions Kansas City.

We also check in with the Team of the Year leader in the KCBS Backyard Team of the Year points race. JP Parran and wife Colleen comprise Bourbon and Blues BBQ out of Wilmington, N.C. This summer, JP and Colleen are on a memorable competition journey, setting up in a west-central Missouri campground and commuting from there to competitions around the region. JP tells us the story behind Bourbon and Blues BBQ and their goals for the rest of 2023, starting with this weekend’s competition at Que for a Cause in Tahlequah, Okla. (Note: We had some audio issues and I apologize that the sound of JP’s segment is a bit rough in some spots).

Meanwhile, the Tailgate Guys BBQ team gets ready to compete again this weekend. We are very fortunate to get a spot in Que for a Cause after cancellation of an event closer to home. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 221 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with Curt Wallace from Smoked & Furious BBQ out of Oklahoma City, the No. 4-ranked team in this week’s KCBS Team of the Year standings. Curt tells us about how he got started in competition BBQ and risen into national prominence in a relatively short period of time. We also talk about some bumps in the road how to decipher sub-par scores along the way and the influence of some of his fellow Oklahoma BBQ legends such as David Bouska and Donnie Teel.

While no longer technically “Under the Radar,” after capturing their first career grand championship earlier this month, we learn the story of Team Crawford from Roger Crawford out of Atlantic, Iowa. Roger said a perfect storm came together for the first GC in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a few weeks ago and it even more special as he edged out one of BBQ’s best, Blane Hunter and Pork Butts BBQ for the win.

On the opening segment of the show, we recap the Tailgate Guys BBQ team’s weekend at the Smokin’ on the Osage in Osceola, Missouri. Organizers Chuck and Jessica Simpson put on a first-class event in a beautiful setting and no team seemed immune from some bizarre judging and weird comments from some of the certified barbecue judges. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Anyone who’s attempted competition BBQ knows how hard it is to win a grand championship, no matter the sanctioning body. Joel Fleetwood and his Meat Rushmore BBQ team is fresh off an impressive rarity, KCBS Grand Championships on back-to-back weekends. On Episode 220 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Joel about how it happened and what it feels like to be hitting on all cooking cylinders as Meat Rushmore has risen to No. 15 in the KCBS Team of the Year standings. Joel also is on the KCBS Board of Directors and we ask him about how that is going and some of the challenges facing the organization.

John Lindsey from All Qued Up BBQ also returns for his monthly Team Arkassippi segment and, as usual, John has been busy with competition, teaching and catering. On the latter, John talks about the best way to test the waters of starting a catering business and he also discusses his involvement with Bama-Q on the teaching and competitive side.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their recent cooking ventures and preview the weekend ahead. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

In addition to being one of America’s great pitmasters, Fred Robles wears many other hats in the BBQ world. The 2019 American Royal World Series of BBQ Open Grand Champion runs his own butcher shop (Rio Valley Meats) in Weslaco, Texas, and is president of the Champions BBQ Alliance, a sanctioning body that’s successfully into its third year. We talk to Fred about all of those things on Episode 219 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, plus ways to help out one of his Texas BBQ brothers who’s battling cancer. Robert Sierra, a Texas BBQ icon in his own right, was recently diagnosed with lymphoma and Fred tells us about Robert as a great pitmaster and friend and how the BBQ family can help Robert with medical costs through Venmo (RobertSierraSPC) or CashApp (SrobertSierraSSPC). The Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast certainly sends our best wishes to Robert for a full and speedy recovery!

We also take a look at the upcoming Smokin’ on the Harbor, a KCBS Master’s and Backyard competition coming up Aug. 5-6 in scenic Warsaw, Mo., with organizer Lynette Stokes. Hear about the contest’s transition from all-backyard to adding the Master’s series a couple of years ago and how the public gets involved in the annual event. Go to WelcometoWarsaw.com and click on events to find out more. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their recent cooking ventures and preview the weekend ahead. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Byron Chism has cooked BBQ all over the world and won 39 Grand Championships along the way. But Chism, who will be inducted into the BBQ Hall of Fame this fall during the American Royal World Series of BBQ at Kansas Speedway, is best known for producing the first widely distributed rub specifically designed for BBQ. On Episode 216 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Chism about his “Bad Byron’s Butt Rub” that’s still one of the top sellers in stores around the globe, 26 years after its creation. Byron tells us about how he came up with the rub, the origin of its name and why it’s still a hit all these years later.

We also check in with Nick Davis of Double Barrel BBQ about his upcoming Que For a Cause benefit competition in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Aug. 4-5 event is for backyard and pro teams and already has attracted a star-studded field in just its third year. Davis, himself an outstanding competition cook, tells us why the event’s benefactor, Special Olympics, is so meaningful to him. Nick also touches on his growing BBQ restaurant, which offers both rewards and challenges.

Meanwhile, the guys recap their cooking weeks and round up the latest Grand Champions on the KCBS circuit. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizzaHave a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 215 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with the family team fresh off one of the biggest prizes in competition BBQ. The O.G. Bandits out of Oak Grove, Missouri, led by Josh Farley and Ashton Smith, earned a $25,000 prize for their Grand Championship at the KCBS Competitors’ Series Made for K.C. BBQ Championship in Kansas City. The Bandits also receive naming rights, branding and the opportunity to create their own menu and market their own line of sauces and rubs at the BBQ restaurant inside the new Kansas City International Airport terminal in 2024. Josh and Ashton talk about their BBQ journey and how they’ve reached this possible life-changing opportunity.

We remain in the Kansas City area to check in with Carl McBee, who’s been a cook, judge and contest organizer for the last two decades. Carl is the organization at the KCBS Cameron (Missouri) Elks BBQ Cookoff, July 7-8 where he will not only have a one-day Masters’ Series competition, but a unique same-day doubleheader for backyard cooks. Carl talks about this hopefully being a launching pad for backyard cooks to get some experience and perhaps draw some newcomers to the sport. 

Meanwhile, the Tailgate Guys BBQ competition team has taken plenty of lumps over the years - and always owned up to it on the show. This week is different. Head coach Lyndal Scranton and family cooked up a storm at their hometown Ozarks BBQ Fest, with 180 first-place Pork, 5th-place Brisket and 7th-place Ribs. Overall, the team finished third with a 704.52 to realize a dream and crack the rather exclusive KCBS 700 club. We try to stay humble while reviewing the awesome weekend! 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 214 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we catch up with 2021 American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational Grand Champion Bill Heyen, whose Triple H BBQ picked up their second Grand Championship of 2023 last weekend in Covington, Tenn. Heyan and wife Andrea, part of a large farm family in west-central Illinois, have 12 GCs and seven RGCs since 2019. They’re offering their knowledge in a unique “hands-on, behind the scenes” style with 1-on-1 classes in real time during competitions. Bill, who’s also one of the nicer people we’ve met in BBQ, explains how it works and even how much it costs to take this unique class, as opposed to the typical 20-30 folks in a classroom tell-all.

We also take a trip to southern California to find out more about 5th Gear BBQ with head cook Nick Barrick after the family team won its first career KCBS Grand Championship recently in Big Bear Lake, California, in their first competition of 2023. Nick, a self-taught cook, talks about why he was bitten by the competition bug a few years ago and lays out some goals in both competition and catering for 5th Gear the rest of 2023. 

Meanwhile, it’s the first “Game Week” of the year for the Tailgate Guys BBQ cooking team and Lyndal has a preview of the hometown Ozarks BBQ Fest while Steve keeps his focus on the backyard with an array of ideas for grill time on his deck this weekend.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 213 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we catch up with John Lindsey of All Qued Up BBQ about his latest happenings, of which there are many. John leads off by telling us about his role as one of the all-star mentors to backyard cooks on the new television show Barbecue Country on The Country Network. The show made its debut this week and will have new episodes each Monday night and John, who does everything from professional competition to catering to teaching BBQ tells us about the importance of putting an emphasis on America’s backyard cooks.

We then check in with Joshua DeWitt on the heels of his JDQBBQ Spicy Rub being named “Best Rub on the Planet” in the American Royal Association Best Rub contest. Josh has been involved in competition BBQ for several years and release his JDQ Spicy for sale last year, joining his already popular JDQ Sweet. Both are excellent on pork, used either individually or together. Josh tells us about the process of creating his own rub and the long road it takes from the idea stage to development, distribution and finally to store shelves. 

If you don’t already follow the Tailgate Guys BBQ Facebook page, please consider giving us a “like” or “follow” and join the conversation. We’ll have some live content coming up from next week’s Ozarks BBQ Fest. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Those of us who love BBQ can agree there are few things in life better than a perfectly cooked baby back rib. But outstanding Ribs haven’t been good enough - compared to Pork Shoulder and Whole Hog - to win a Memphis in May World Championship since 2002. Until last weekend, that is.

On Episode 212 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with John David Wheeler, pitmaster of the Ribdiculous Bar-B-Krewe team that broke the Memphis in May Ribs hex by capturing the overall title last weekend on the banks of the Mississippi at Tom Lee Park in Memphis. Wheeler, a former Memphis in May world champ with his Natural Born Grillers team, tells us about teaming up with chefs from around the USA and his 21-year-old son, John Dalton Wheeler, to find the winning formula. Why hasn’t the Rib category won in so long? Wheeler has a theory. He also tells us about cooking the winning entry on his “mailbox,” the origins of his storied BBQ-cooking career and being a proud and long-time member of Operation BBQ Relief.

We also spread the news of a big KCBS competition with a hefty, $20,000 prize fund coming up soon in our hometown of Springfield, Missouri. That’s Ozarks BBQ Fest and event organizer Larry Krauck runs down the happenings at the June 9-10 event at the spacious Ozark Empire Fairgrounds where music and cold drinks also will be in abundance, along with a new, Backyard Grillers category on Friday night for anyone who’s ever aspired to compete at an entry level. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview their Memorial Day Weekend cooking plans and take a quick tour of the sports world. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It’s National BBQ Month and there’s a ton going on to celebrate the occasion at Proud Souls Barbecue and Provisions Kansas City. Richard Fergola, Marketing and Public Relations Director for Proud Souls, stops by Episode 211 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to give us a rundown starting off with Demo Days the next two Sundays, where folks can learn all about Ribs on May 21st and how to cook on a Gateway Drum Smoker on May 28th. Richard’s Fergolicious BBQ competition team also has been busy and he gives a quick recap and preview of a busy summer on the trail. 

We also go back “Under the Radar” to find out more about an up-and-coming competition team. This time it’s a trip to New York City for a visit with John Zervoulakos of Grandpa Val’s BBQ. John says it’s a family gathering and a party whenever Grandpa Val’s competes - and the results have been impressive as well.  

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve recap their own busy cooking weeks and look ahead to the run-up to the Memorial Day Weekend, in both BBQ and sports. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Team Blues Hog shocked the BBQ world in 2022 by winning what many consider the biggest prize in competition BBQ - Memphis in May’s Grand Championship - by cooking Whole Hog hot and fast on an oversized Gateway Drum Smoker. Next week, the Blues Hog team returns to Memphis with a target on its back, traditional low-and-slow pitmasters ready to take aim. That’s fine with Tim Scheer. The team captain and owner of Blues Hog joins us on Episode 210 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast for a Memphis in May preview. Tim explains that the preparation for 2023 Memphis in May began only a few days after last year’s title celebration as he began planning the breeding schedule for the trio of hogs he’s taking in the bid to repeat. Also, a Hall of Famer has been added to the team. Check out our conversation with Tim to find this legend’s identity.

Also, there’s a great new book on the market called “Butcher on the Block: Everyday Recipes, Stories and Inspirations from Your Local Butcher and Beyond.” Author Matt Moore joins us to talk about the book, which shares stories, coveted family recipes and expert tips from a dozen butchers around the globe who share their experiences and knowledge. Find the book anywhere books are sold and enjoy as both the written and visual content is outstanding. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and talk a little sports. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:

Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm