Iowa State BBQ Championship

04/06/2026

Congratulations once again to our teams who achieved 180s, 350s and 700s at the Iowa State BBQ Championship this past weekend

180s
Dawg's BBQ x2
Hot Daddy's BBQ
Wags Backwoods BBQ perfect perfect!

350s
Rudes BBQ
Chester's Twisted Que
Dawg's BBQ perfect 360 score!

700s
Wags Backwoods BBQ

The talent at this year's event was incredible and these scores definately showed it. Congratulations again to each of these high scorers! We will all be sitting around fires at contests for years to come chatting about and reliving what you all did this weekend.

04/06/2026

Unbelievably the 5th annual reboot of the Iowa State BBQ Championship is in the books. I'd like to send my sincere thank you to all of the teams who spent part of their Easter weekend with us and showed up and braved the cold, wet, windy and even occasionally snowy weather throughout the weekend. A huge thank you as well to the our reps Tom and Cindy Juhl along with our judges and volunteers, this event would be impossible without all of your contributions, thank you!
I'd also like to thank our event sponsors Smokey D's BBQ It's My Jam Cafe The Ornery Chicken Iowa Pork Fareway Stores Altoona The Saturday morning breakfast each team received along with the 2 $50 gift cards were provided by It's My Jam Cafe
Congratulations to our winners
Kids Q under 11
Beckett - Bbq Pit Bros

Kids Q 12+
Henry Leonard - Home Farm BBQ
Special shout out to 2nd place Ava who competed in her first ever contest while battling through some very serious health problems. If you haven't seen the Friday night awards, do yourself a favor and try to find them. It was a very special moment.

Backyard
Chicken - Dawg's BBQ with a 180
Ribs - Dawg's BBQ with yet another 180
2026 Iowa State BBQ Championship Backyard Grand Champion Dawg's BBQ with a perfect 360 score!

Master Series
Chicken - Wags Backwoods BBQ
Ribs - Wags Backwoods BBQ with a perfect perfect
Pork - Hot Daddy's BBQ with a 180
Brisket - Son of a Boar BBQ
2026 Iowa State BBQ Championship Grand Champion Wags Backwoods BBQ with a 709.7028!

Congratulations to all of our champions and everyone who heard their name called this weekend. Planning is already underway for 2027.

Good luck to everyone out on the trail this season, I'll see you out there.

04/04/2026

Happy competition day. It's only 9:00 and we already have our first winnes! Congratulations to Killer Rex BBQ and Chesters Twisted Que on finding the golden Jammin Tarts from It's My Jam Cafe good for a $50 gift card in what I'm calling Darren Wonka and the Jammin Tart Factory.
Shout out to Darren, Sherry and the staff at It's My Jam for getting all of the tarts ready for us today

04/03/2026

First day is on the books. 12 teams loaded in today for the big show this weekend. Safe travels to everyone coming in tomorrow. The forecast seems a bit iffy so everyone please be weather aware. A few of us kicked around the idea tonight to meet for breakfast at It's My Jam Cafe at 7:30 Friday morning. If you're available I'd love it if you joined us.

04/01/2026

Registration is officially closed for the 2026 Iowa State BBQ Championship. We've got a full field of Master series and Backyard teams ready to compete for their share of over $14k in prize money. I'm happy to confirm that with both series being over 35 teams, both contests will provide full bonus TOY points, additionally as we always are, we are well over 100% certified judges.

I will still take registrations for kids q and burger through Wednesday night. I can't wait to see you all in a few days. Safe travels to all

Master 44
Quetopia
Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ
225 Mafia
Bucknutz
Sugar Shack
BBQ Pit Bros
Team Crawford
Rack Shack BBQ - 2025 Grand Champion
Electric Tomato
Gothic Town Grillers - 2023 Grand Champion
Chick Huggins BBQ
Home Farm BBQ
Hot Daddy's BBQ
DartyQ
The Smoking Silveback
C&M BBQ
Nectar of the Hogs
T-Rex BBQ
Big Racks BBQ
Son of a Boar BBQ
Daddy Dutch BBQ
Matty Macks
Shiggin & Grinnin - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokin Suckers
Bourbon & Blues BBQ
Bohica BBQ
Tried&True BBQ
Low Eye Que
Smokey D's Wannabees
Broke Boys BBQ
Buckshot BBQ
Lucky 19 Sauce Company
Can Country Outlaw
Byg's BBQ
Wags Backwoods BBQ
Chillin N Grillin N Iowa
Luscious Loins
Second Hand Smoke SLV
Ambition Que
Machete Boys BBQ
Justice BBQ
Cast Iron Cookers
Porky Butts
Smokey Beys BBQ

Backyard 36
SmoQued on Main St
Smoke N Poke BBQ
Boneheads BBQ
Weez's Groovin BBQ - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokey GQ - 2025 Grand Champion
All Smoked Up
Family Tradition BBQ
Dawgs BBQ
Team No Clue
Killer Rex BBQ
JK Smoken BBQ
Wapatui Smokers
C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ
Smokey Bros Barbecue
Blades & Muellers BBQ
Fender Bender BBQ
E Squared BBQ
Rudes BBQ
Bramble BBQ
T-Dawg BBQ
Heavy & Sweaty BBQ
Kolder Q
T Daddy's BBQ
Poppin Smoke BBQ
Chester's Twisted Que
BBQ Mike
Sensuous BBQ
Barefoot BBQ
East Bow Que
Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que
BootsBBQ
Burn Barrel BBQ
Brown Dog BBQ
B&D BBQ
Skinny Pig BBQ
10 In the Pit BBQ

Burger
Smokey D's
Bone Heads BBQ
Family Tradition
Hot Daddy's
No Clue
Wapatui
Smoking Silverback
Rip City
Shiggin n Grinnin
Smokey Bros x2
Bramble
Smokey D's Wannabees x3
Heavy & Sweaty
Quetopia
Rudes
Cast Iron Cookers
Broke Boys
Bohica
Wags

Kids Q U11
Rack Shack - Andrew
Weez - Austin
Home Farm - Caitlin
BBQ Pit Bros - Konnor
BBQ Pit Bros - Beckett
Rudes - Luke
No Clue - Abram & Abel
Boots - Elaina
Boots - Nova
Wannabees - Elena
Wannabees - Gabe

Kids Q 12+
BBQ Pit Bros - Tyler
BBQ Pit Bros - Ava
Home Farm - Henry
Rudes - Catie
No Clue - Addisyn & Aubrey
B&D - Gemma

03/27/2026

Here is the updated team list for next week's contest. We are a full point TOY qualifier on both master and backyard, if you're chasing points in 2026 you're going to want to be here. I will take teams through Tuesday 3/31.
Get signed up at nevereasybbq.com

Updated team list 3/27/26

Master 41
Quetopia
Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ
225 Mafia
Bucknutz
Sugar Shack
BBQ Pit Bros
Team Crawford
Rack Shack BBQ - 2025 Grand Champion
Electric Tomato
Gothic Town Grillers - 2023 Grand Champion
Chick Huggins BBQ
Home Farm BBQ
Hot Daddy's BBQ
DartyQ
The Smoking Silveback
C&M BBQ
Nectar of the Hogs
T-Rex BBQ
Big Racks BBQ
Son of a Boar BBQ
Daddy Dutch BBQ
Matty Macks
Shiggin & Grinnin - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokin Suckers
Bourbon & Blues BBQ
Bohica BBQ
Tried&True BBQ
Low Eye Que
Smokey D's Wannabees
Broke Boys BBQ
Buckshot BBQ
Lucky 19 Sauce Company
Can Country Outlaw
Byg's BBQ
Wags Backwoods BBQ
Chillin N Grillin N Iowa
Luscious Loins
Second Hand Smoke SLV
Ambition Que
Machete Boys BBQ
Justice BBQ

Backyard 35
SmoQued on Main St
Smoke N Poke BBQ
Boneheads BBQ
Weez's Groovin BBQ - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokey GQ - 2025 Grand Champion
All Smoked Up
Family Tradition BBQ
Dawgs BBQ
Team No Clue
Killer Rex BBQ
JK Smoken BBQ
Wapatui Smokers
C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ
Smokey Bros Barbecue
Blades & Muellers BBQ
Fender Bender BBQ
E Squared BBQ
Rudes BBQ
Bramble BBQ
T-Dawg BBQ
Heavy & Sweaty BBQ
Kolder Q
T Daddy's BBQ
Poppin Smoke BBQ
Chester's Twisted Que
BBQ Mike
Sensuous BBQ
Barefoot BBQ
East Bow Que
Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que
BootsBBQ
Burn Barrel BBQ
Brown Dog BBQ
B&D BBQ
Skinny Pig BBQ

Master Series backyard series burger Kids q Join us for Iowa’s ultimate BBQ competition!Mark your calendars! April 3rd & 4th Adventureland Campground 2600 Adventureland Dr, Altoona, IA 50009This two-day event brings together pitmasters, backyard grillers, and BBQ enthusiasts for a fiery competitio...

03/16/2026

18 days out from the Iowa State BBQ Championship. We're up to 39 master series and 29 backyard teams. Team and judge emails will be sent out tomorrow. Registration will close Monday 3/23 so if you're wanting in and not signed up yet time is running out.
Get signed up at nevereasybbq.com

Updated team list 3/16/26

Master 39
Quetopia
Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ
225 Mafia
Bucknutz
Sugar Shack
BBQ Pit Bros
Team Crawford
Rack Shack BBQ - 2025 Grand Champion
Electric Tomato
Gothic Town Grillers - 2023 Grand Champion
Chick Huggins BBQ
Home Farm BBQ
Shiggin Aint Easy
Hot Daddy's BBQ
DartyQ
The Smoking Silveback
C&M BBQ
Nectar of the Hogs
T-Rex BBQ
Big Racks BBQ
Son of a Boar BBQ
Daddy Dutch BBQ
Matty Macks
Shiggin & Grinnin - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokin Suckers
Bourbon & Blues BBQ
Bohica BBQ
Tried&True BBQ
Low Eye Que
Smokey D's Wannabees
Broke Boys BBQ
Buckshot BBQ
Lucky 19 Sauce Company
Can Country Outlaw
Byg's BBQ
Wags Backwoods BBQ
Chillin N Grillin N Iowa
Luscious Loins
Second Hand Smoke SLV

Backyard 29
SmoQued on Main St
Smoke N Poke BBQ
Boneheads BBQ
Weez's Groovin BBQ - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokey GQ - 2025 Grand Champion
All Smoked Up
Family Tradition BBQ
Dawgs BBQ
Team No Clue
Killer Rex BBQ
JK Smoken BBQ
Wapatui Smokers
C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ
Smokey Bros Barbecue
Blades & Muellers BBQ
Fender Bender BBQ
E Squared BBQ
Rudes BBQ
Bramble BBQ
T-Dawg BBQ
Heavy & Sweaty BBQ
Kolder Q
T Daddy's BBQ
Poppin Smoke BBQ
Chester's Twisted Que
BBQ Mike
Sensuous BBQ
Barefoot BBQ
East Bow Que

Master Series backyard series burger Kids q Join us for Iowa’s ultimate BBQ competition!Mark your calendars! April 3rd & 4th Adventureland Campground 2600 Adventureland Dr, Altoona, IA 50009This two-day event brings together pitmasters, backyard grillers, and BBQ enthusiasts for a fiery competitio...

03/09/2026

We're now just 25 days from the Iowa State BBQ Championship. We're looking to be the only full TOY point master series contest that weekend and are getting close to being full points for backyard as well. If you're not on this list and want to be get signed up today at nevereasybbq.com

Updated team list 3/9/26

Master 34
Quetopia
Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ
225 Mafia
Bucknutz
Sugar Shack
BBQ Pit Bros
Team Crawford
Rack Shack BBQ - 2025 Grand Champion
Electric Tomato
Gothic Town Grillers - 2023 Grand Champion
Chick Huggins BBQ
Home Farm BBQ
Shiggin Aint Easy
Hot Daddy's BBQ
DartyQ
The Smoking Silveback
C&M BBQ
Nectar of the Hogs
T-Rex BBQ
Big Racks BBQ
Son of a Boar BBQ
Daddy Dutch BBQ
Matty Macks
Shiggin & Grinnin - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokin Suckers
Bourbon & Blues BBQ
Bohica BBQ
Low Eye Que
Smokey D's Wannabees
Broke Boys BBQ
Buckshot BBQ
Lucky 19 Sauce Company
Can Country Outlaw
Byg's BBQ

Backyard 25
SmoQued on Main St
Smoke N Poke BBQ
Boneheads BBQ
Weez's Groovin BBQ - 2024 Grand Champion
Smokey GQ - 2025 Grand Champion
All Smoked Up
Family Tradition BBQ
Dawgs BBQ
Team No Clue
Killer Rex BBQ
JK Smoken BBQ
Wapatui Smokers
C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ
Not Dat Bad
Smokey Bros Barbecue
Blades & Muellers BBQ
Fender Bender BBQ
Tried&True BBQ
E Squared BBQ
Rudes BBQ
Bramble BBQ
T-Dawg BBQ
Heavy & Sweaty BBQ
Kolder Q
T Daddy's BBQ

Master Series backyard series burger Kids q Join us for Iowa’s ultimate BBQ competition!Mark your calendars! April 3rd & 4th Adventureland Campground 2600 Adventureland Dr, Altoona, IA 50009This two-day event brings together pitmasters, backyard grillers, and BBQ enthusiasts for a fiery competitio...

03/03/2026

Is there anyone who is not currently signed up for the Altoona contest who is planning on attending? I'd really like to get an idea for how many teams we have so I don't have to scramble to make decisions on adding resources within the last couple of weeks of the contest.

If you are planning on cooking the contest but aren't signed up yet,please reach out and let me know. You done need to sign up today, I'm just looking for an idea if you're coming or not.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in 4 weeks.