Pictured are (from left) Center Councilman Howell Howard, Cruz Bryce, Scotty Bryce, Anna Bryce and Mayor David Chadwick.
March 17, 2024 - (Photos: Album1) Shelby County Grill Fest, Sponsored by Farmers State Bank, was held at the Shelby County Expo on March 16, 2024, and the overall winner of the Lone Star Barbecue Society sanctioned competition was East Texas Smokers with head cook Scotty Bryce.
Reserve overall award recipient was Big Juicy’s BBQ with head cook Janna Smelley.
Cook teams were all set and cooking on Friday night at the Expo preparing their food for judging the next day. During the evening the washer and 42 tournaments, both of which were sponsored by Shelby Savings Bank, were held in the arena. Karaoke, sponsored by Brock’s Rocks, was also enjoyed while those competitions were ongoing.
Pictured are (from left) Councilman Howell Howard, Janna Smelley and Mayor David Chadwick.
David Chadwick, City of Center Mayor, was the emcee for the awards ceremony held on Saturday, and was accompanied by Howell Howard, Center council member, in presenting awards to the competitors.
Mayor Chadwick recognized all of the sponsors for the event, and specifically Bobby Daw who manages the Expo, for all he did to facilitate the event activities. Brandy Filz then announced the winners of each portion of the competition.
This year there were 15 competitors with opportunity to participate in divisions for brisket, chicken, ribs, beans, open food, Margarita, and Bloody Mary.
Pictured are (from left): Councilman Howell howard, Royce Johnson, Richard Livingston, event sponsor - Shelby Savings Bank representative Lorei Choate, and Mayor David Chadwick.
East Texas Smokers had a total accumulated points of 27 with 3rd place in Brisket; 1st place in Chicken; and 2nd place in Ribs. Big Juicy’s point count which carried her to the Reserve Champion spot was 26 with 1st place in Brisket; 3rd place in Chicken; 3rd place in Ribs.
Smokin’ Wrench Barbecue was the winner of the People’s Choice award.
Pictured are (from left) Councilman Howell Howard, Ryan Bailey, Hannah Bailey, Mayor David Chadwick, and event sponsor - Shelby Savings Bank representative Lorei Choate.
The 42 tournament had 12 teams entered and following a great night of competition Friday, the winners were Royce Johnson and Richard Livingston. Arriving in second place were Olivia and Shelby Johnson.
Washer tournament winners were Ryan and Hannah Bailey. Second place for the Washer tournament were Robbie Dutton and Curtis Bailey.
The cook-off competition results were:
Overall Points Top Winners
Grand Champion - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce. (27 points)
Reserve Champion - Big Juicy’s BBQ, head cook Janna Smelley. (26 points)
Beans
1st place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
2nd place - Shelby Savings Bank, head cook Clay Blacksher.
3rd place – Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
4th place – Hound Dawg Harris, head cook Robert Harris.
5th place – Farmers State Bank, head cook Joey Lawson.
6th place – East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
7th place - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
Chicken
1st place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
2nd place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson.
3rd place – Big Juicy’s BBQ, head cook Janna Smelley.
4th place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
5th place – Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
6th place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
7th place - Shelby Savings Bank, head cook Clay Blacksher.
8th place - Farmers State Bank, head cook Joey Lawson.
9th place – Catfish Josh Campbell, head cook Josh Campbell.
10th place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cook Robert Harris.
Ribs
1st place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cook Robert Harris.
2nd place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
3rd place - Big Juicy’s BBQ, head cook Janna Smelley
4th place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
5th place – Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, head cook Steven Shires.
6th place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
7th place - Catfish Josh Campbell, head cook Josh Campbell.
8th place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
9th place – Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
10th place - Smokin Wrench BBQ, head cook Drake Braxton.
Brisket
1st place - Big Juicy’s BBQ, head cook Janna Smelley.
2nd place – J’s Bar and Grill, head cook Jeremy Snider.
3rd place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
4th place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
5th place - Catfish Josh Campbell, head cook Josh Campbell.
6th place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cook Robert Harris.
7th place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson.
8th place - Smokin Wrench BBQ, head cook Drake Braxton.
9th place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
10th place - Farmers State Bank, head cook Joey Lawson.
Margarita
1st place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson.
Bloody Mary
1st place - J’s Bar and Grill
Open Cook
1st place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
Grill Fest "Chillin' and Grillin'" List of Champions (since sanctioned by Lone Star Barbecue Society)
2023 Champion - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
2023 Reserve Champion - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler
2022 Champion - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler
2022 Reserve Champion - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce
2021 Champion - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce
2021 Reserve Champion - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Wade Anderson
2020 - Canceled
2019 Champion - All Smoked Up from Jacksonville, Texas, head cook Oley Willis
2019 Reserve Champion - Chase-N-Moore Smoke 1, head cook Shawn Moore
2018 Champion - All Smoked Up from Jacksonville, Texas, head cook Oley Willis
2018 Reserve Champion - Tipsy Texans, head cook Joshua Campbell
2017 Champion - Shelby Savings Bank from Center, Texas, head cook Clay Blacksher
2017 Reserve Champion - Blowin’ Smoke BBQ, head cook Adam Bradshaw
2016 Champion - All Smoked Up from Jacksonville, Texas, head cook Oley Willis
2016 Reserve Champion - Smokin’ Lil Red BBQ, head cook Brandon Robertson
2015 Champion - All Smoked Up from Jacksonville, Texas, head cook Oley Willis
2015 Reserve Champion - Team Rage from Rusk, head cook Braun Cyr
2014 Champion - Wild Willis Kookers from Willis, Texas, head cook Lang Chapman
2014 Reserve Champion - Team Rage from Rusk, Texas, head cook Braun Cyr.
The BBQ cook-off started in 2011 as the "Go Hog Wild Cook-Off" and became a sanctioned event in 2014.
The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce expresses a huge thank you to the following Sponsors: Farmers State Bank, Shelby Savings Bank, City of Center, Pilgrims Pride, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, C&J A/C and Heating, 4C Electrical Services, Ace Hardware of East Texas, BTS Disposal, Bob's Pawn and Gun Shop, Cobb-Vantress-Timberlake Farm, R&D Distributing, Raymond Motor Company, Timberwolf LakeWorks and Brock's Rocks.
