PHOTO STORY: Barbecue masters have fun at annual Dowagiac barbecue contest – Leader Publications

| July 22, 2024 | BBQ | No Comments

PHOTO STORY: Barbecue masters have fun at annual Dowagiac barbecue contest

Published at 4:46 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024

DOWAGIAC — Twenty-six barbecue masters from across the country descended on downtown Dowagiac Saturday to compete for top honors at the second annual Dowagiac Barbecue Competition.

Once the charcoal cooled, Brian Calhoun of Grace Lake, Illinois, took home the Grand Champion title as Weez’s Groovin’ BBQ after placing fourth and second in the chicken and ribs categories. Cameron McKee’s Skinny Pig BBQ of South Beloit, Illinois, took home the Reserve Grand Champion title with 11th and first place finishes in the chicken and ribs categories, respectively. Lisa Larson and Jamie Jackson of Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que placed first in the chicken category and sixth overall.

“I’m thrilled,” McKee said. “To not get a top 10 and be considered for reserve is crazy. I just got a really high score on ribs and then I got an 11 on chicken. I’m blown away.”

The competition was hosted by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, the world’s largest competitive barbecue organization. The event brought together 26 barbecue masters, 26 judges and enthusiasts from across the country in downtown Dowagiac.

The competition was tough, with KCBS-certified barbecue judges evaluating the meats according to KCBS standards. The win was a pleasant surprise for McKee, who personally felt his chicken was better than his ribs.

“When they called for chicken and I wasn’t even in the top 10, I was like, ‘Well, that’s the day,’” he said. “I’ve been fifth in chicken three times in a row and I just can’t seem to close the deal. My ribs were all over the place, so I kept adjusting a little bit and today I decided to do what I usually do with chicken and just wing it with ribs.”

McKee said he has competed in 10 barbecue competitions and feels he has improved with each competition.

“I’ve come a long way,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t even get a single call. That’s the first time I’ve gotten a call and now I’ve gotten a call at every contest I’ve entered.”

Michael and Carol Eckes of Heartland, Wisconsin, placed sixth overall in the Wapatui Smokers, placing second overall in chicken and 13th in ribs. The couple started barbecuing two years ago and began competing last year.

“After a year, I was wondering if my ribs were good compared to other people’s,” Michael said. “I started having fun on the patio and competing, and then we started learning things and getting good at it, and just doing it on the weekends. It’s a good time, with a lot of nice, friendly people, and you learn a lot.”

For Michael and the other contestants, friendship is one of the highlights of the competitions.

“It’s like a big family,” Michael said. “They want to help you and they want you to improve. We were so new a year ago, we didn’t know anything and they tell you exactly what they’re doing and advise you to try new things to improve your skills.”

“It’s a really nice community, it’s like a brotherhood,” Larson said. “Everyone is nice and very friendly. Everyone helps each other out.”

McKee and several other bands were impressed with the Dowagiac festival and plan to return in the future.

“I’ve been to contests where they don’t even bring an ash bucket, a grease bucket, or trash cans, so they’re really doing a good job here,” McKee said. “You can tell they have people who have done barbecues before.”

“It’s a very charming downtown,” Larson said. “I love old buildings, a lot of cities tear them down. It’s very cute, very well laid out and well organized.”

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