10/06/2026
A challenging week leading up to this weekend, trailer hitch broke, a/c in trailer died, and transmission on truck tanked. And catering for 200+ wednesday. Despite that, and a lack of common sense...We decided to cook two contests about four hours apart, the latter being the coveted American Royal. The largest barbecue contest in the world. I committed to Andre Nixon that I would be there in la belle, even if it landed on the weekend of the royal, commitment kept, judgment questioned. This is a wonderful contest with a lot of passion and backed by deep pockets and love for this little town. In order to do this, it would take a full team. Sean Young helped me on the first contest, while original Ghost crew headed to Kansas City for the Royal.
We had some challenges that we overcame in la belle and turned in four awesome boxes, heard our name called three times Pork and Ribs leading the way, alas that was not enough. In this field. My friend Wade Reeder brought it all home for the GC, Rudes BBQ landed the RGC. So happy for Wade and Lynn, he has helped me more to learn the craft of barbecue, than any single person. So happy for them.
Wednesday. i arrived at the Royal about 720pm, handed the rental truck keys off drumline bbq to park trailer with jenga precision, thanks my new found friends. Prepped meats, listened to awards, later celebrated Dr. Squealgood BBQ Square Trophy with a Elmer T Lee burboun. Got to bed after midnight.
The cook process was one of the best of the year, and turn ins certainly went better with the extra help. We hoped for calls on the side dishes and ancillaries, nope, smho. We did end up with a Pork call, which kept our streak alive.
Walking in pork was like a family reunion Compart Family Farms teams and SmokinGhost BBQ sponsored teams all over the place, we were pumped up for Sailor Nick’s BBQ stage appearance as I was congratulating razorracks (andrea heyen) Triple H BBQ was called for the Square Trophy, I may have almost lifted her onto the stage. These are the moments that keep an old man chasing Barbeque dreams!
We finished 60th overall out of 360 barbecue teams, not our best finish but respectable. Congrats to my buddy Brian Weez Calhoun on an amazing finish. He too was crazy busy this weekend.
Congrats to Smokey Bey's Barbecue on the win, and to Pop A Top Cookers on second. Id be amiss if i didn't call out Porky Butts BBQ on two amazing days of cooking. Congrats to all that heard their names called, it is like no other place and no other sport. The new location is simply amazing, this IS the home where it should be.
Again thanks to my son Anthony Buob for holding the fort while I traveled there, and Will Smith Dave Vojta for the support of this insane idea.
Just when you think your competition career is over...... moments like this pull you back in. We will digest and hold off on any decisions until we are better rested.
Thanks to our sponsors and supporters:
Jealous Devil
Korte Meat Processing
Compart
Weez’s Groovin’ BBQ Catering
FireBoard
Outlaw BBQ Smokers
The Kansas City Barbeque Society
SmokinGhost BBQ
