Champion: (from left) City of Center Councilman Howell Howard, Shawn Moore, and City of Center Mayor David Chadwick.
April 2, 2023 (Photos - Album 1, Album 2) - The Grand Champion of the 2023 Grill Fest "Chillin' and Grillin'" barbecue cooking competition sanctioned by Lone Star Barbecue Society was team Chase-N-Moore Smoke with head cook Shawn Moore. Reserve Champion cook team was Squeals on Wheels with head cook David Lefler. The barbecue cook-off was presented by Farmers State Bank.
The cookin' was no foolin’ at the Shelby County Expo Center, aka Rodeo Arena, on Saturday, April 1, 2023 with 18 cook teams competing for Lone Star Barbecue Society points with chicken, ribs, and brisket. Cookers also competed in four additional categories just for fun.
Reserve Champion: (from left) Councilman Howard, David Lefler, and Mayor Chadwick.
In points for the win, Chase-N-Moore Smoke won 1st in brisket, 3rd in chicken, and 4th in ribs for a total of 25 points and Squeals on Wheels won 1st in chicken, 1st in ribs, and 8th in brisket for 23 points.
42 Tournament Champion: (from left) Donny Fountain, Billy Neal, event sponsor - Shelby Savings Bank representative Will Lucas, and Mayor Chadwick.
42 Tournament 2nd place: (from left) Councilman Howard, Karen Fancher, Rodger Fancher, and Mayor Chadwick.
Prior to the Saturday judging, participants enjoyed a 42 tournament and washer pitching contest on Friday. Both events were sponsored by Shelby Savings Bank. Eleven teams entered the 42 Tournament and twelve teams tossed their entry into Washer Pitching competition. Billy Neal and Donny Fountain ended the night the champions in the 42 Tournament defeating 2nd place team Rodger and Karen Fancher. Champions of the Washer Pitching were Curtis Bailey and Ryan Bailey with 2nd place going to Jacob Best and Howell Howard.
Washer Pitching: (from left) Curtis Bailey and Ryan Bailey. Event sponsored by Shelby Savings Bank.
The cook-off competition results were:
Overall Points Top Winners
Grand Champion - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore. (25 points)
Reserve Champion - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler. (23 points)
3rd Place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce. (21 points)
4th Place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson. (20 points)
5th Place - Smokin Wrench BBQ, head cook Drake Braxton. (19 points)
6th Place - Lucky Dog, head cook Cooter Gibson. (14 points)
7th Place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce (14 points)
8th Place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins (12 points)
9th Place - Chevy Cookers, head cook Cole Clifton (8 points)
10th Place - Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, head cook Steven Shires (4 points)
People’s Choice Award - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
Adult Beverage
1st place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce. (Margarita)
Chef's Choice
1st place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce. (Pork tenderloin)
Bloody Mary
1st place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
Beans
1st place - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
2nd place - Lucky Dog, head cook Cooter Gibson.
3rd place - Shelby Savings Bank, head cook Will Lucas.
4th place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
5th place - VFW Post 8904, head cook Mike Wulf.
6th place - W & W Texas BBQ, head cook Preston Whitney.
7th place - Farmers State Bank, head cook Joey Lawson.
8th place - Smoke Life, head cook Dustin Windham.
9th place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
10th place - Chevy Cookers, head cook Cole Clifton.
Chicken
1st place - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
2nd place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson.
3rd place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
4th place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
5th place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
6th place - Smokin Wrench BBQ, head cook Drake Braxton.
7th place - Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, head cook Steven Shires.
8th place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
9th place - Lucky Dog, head cook Cooter Gibson.
10th place - PC Meats, head cook Shawn Prettyman.
Ribs
1st place - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
2nd place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
3rd place - Lucky Dog, head cook Cooter Gibson.
4th place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
5th place - Smokin Wrench BBQ, head cook Drake Braxton.
6th place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
7th place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
8th place - Farmers State Bank, head cook Joey Lawson.
9th place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson.
10th place - Chevy Cookers, head cook Cole Clifton.
Brisket
1st place - Chase-N-Moore Smoke, head cook Shawn Moore.
2nd place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cook Duane Anderson.
3rd place - Smokin Wrench BBQ, head cook Drake Braxton.
4th place - Chevy Cookers, head cook Cole Clifton.
5th place - Pokin’ & Smokin’, head cook Mike Bryce.
6th place - The Fluffy Dumplin, head cook Lucas Robbins.
7th place - Lucky Dog, head cook Cooter Gibson.
8th place - Squeals on Wheels, head cook David Lefler.
9th place - East Texas Smokers, head cook Scotty Bryce.
10th place - PC Meats, head cook Shawn Prettyman.
Grill Fest "Chillin' and Grillin'" List of Champions (since sanctioned by Lone Star Barbecue Society)
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 Will Lucas
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.
Thank you to all the Sponsors who have made this event possible: Farmers State Bank, Pilgrims Pride, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, Shelby Savings Bank, the City of Center, Rapid Payday & Title Loans, C&J A/C and Heating, Ace Hardware of East Texas, Baldwin Tree Service, Bob’s Pawn and Gun Shop, Cobb Vantress-Timberlake Farm, R&D Distributing, Timberwolf Lake Works, 4C Electric, Brock’s Rocks, H&R Block and Despino’s Tires. Thank you to Texas Glacier for donating ice. Thank you to Bobby Daw for all his help with the event.
