05/03/2026
So, after a 6-month layoff from the SC BBQ circuit due to wrestling and travel, Butt Wrestling BBQ fired up the smoker for the 16th Annual Pickin' and Piggin' BBQ Cook-Off at Saluda Shoals in Irmo. I have judged this competition several times over the years and we cooked it for the 1st time last year earning the People's Choice Award. It is quickly becoming one of our favorites. The competition always brings in the top BBQ Teams in the state.
This year we battled the rain and 15 other top teams to a 9th place in Butts and a 10th place in Ribs. Not too bad after not cooking for 6 months. I was pleased with our boxes that we turned in.
I was extremely excited to hear our name get called for the Peoples' Choice Champion for the 2nd year in a row!!! Now if we can only get the judges to agree with the People, we'd be doing great. 🤣🤣🤣
Congratulations go out to George Ray and his Monkey Bottom Boys Team for 1st in Butts, and our great friends, Upstate Smokeshop, John and Paul for 2nd in Butts.
Mean Gene Culbertson and his Backwoods Bar-B-Que team, "Tesa" continues his mastery and takes 1st in the Ribs again. With Monkey Bottom Boys taking 2nd and also the overall Grand Championship title with the Upstate Boys grabbing the Reserve Grand Champion.
As always, it was a fun weekend despite Mother Nature. The Friday night dinner was a big hit, thank you Gene and George. We appreciate the invite.
Next week we are on to Chester for the Hog on the Hill Competition.
And the following week we will be cooking at Williamston for the Pig in the Park BBQ Festival and Cook-Off.
Come out and say hey.