Having recently returned from the Big Pig Jig, the Georgia State BBQ Championship Competition, I've got a lot of great stuff to share. First the good news - the Sam and Dave's Competition BBQ team placed 2nd in pork shoulder and 4th in whole hog, out of a field of over 120 teams from throughout the southeast.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Big Pig Jig, it is the single largest BBQ competition in the state of Georgia. In fact, it is such a large event that the organizers have dedicated a handsome tract of land in Vienna, GA to the sole purpose of hosting the event for just 3 days a year, and it is such a big deal that it has its own name - BBQ City USA. Unlike most BBQ competitions which typically take place in a field hooked up with temporary water and power, BBQ City USA has privately owned, permanent cook shacks mixed in with the standard 20x40 temporary cook sites. Words don't really do it justice, so I captured a five minute video of a quick walk around BBQ City USA. Pardon the shaky nature of the video, but I couldn't afford a SteadyCam. Enjoy.
I also took a few pictures of our winning entries. Here are our shoulders and hog.
On the left you see our shoulders about halfway through the smoking process. We cooked a total of 7 shoulders. On the right you see our whole hog entry, just before judging began. Our hog was 235 lbs before cooking.
For the BBQgeek, the high point of the Pig Jig was getting to visit the Champions Board. The Champions Board holds a special significance because the very first champion of the Pig Jig was Stump and Sons BBQ team which was lead by Sam and Dave's owner, David Poe. A legend in Georgia BBQ circles, the stories of his BBQ and catering skills serve as inspiration to all up and coming cooks.
I GREW UP IN CORDELE, AND EVERYTIME SINCE IT STARTED I WAS THERRR, PARTING AND ENJOYING THE TIMES OF CHILDHOOD PIG GIG EVENTS. I HAVE ENJOYED THE COOKIN LIFESTYLE AND PARTING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT THE PIG GIG. THERR A LOT OF MEMORIES FROM BAC IN THA DAYS, AND SUM HAVE MOVED ON, AND RELOCATED AND GREW UP. THE DAYS HAVE GREW 2 NOW OUR KIDS R GOING 2 THE BIG PIG JIG, AND I MUST SAY, I REMEMBER ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND FUN I HAD, AND SO WILL THEY. I HOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL B, AS THE FATHERS THAT INVENTED IT, LONG AS WE ALL HAVE MOVED ON AND PASSED ON, AND CAN SHARE OUR STORIES AND PICTURES WITH PEOPLE AND LOVEONES 2 COME. SO THANX FER THE JOY AND MEMORIES, THAT I HAVE, AND HOPE THE JOY KEEPS ON FER YRS 2 COME.
Posted by: BRIAN YOUNGBLOOD | September 21, 2008 at 05:33 PM