Nov 3–4, 2023 · Vidalia, LA · 📍 202 Vernon Stevens Blvd · State championship
Reps: Maria Lohman, Wayne Lohman · Prize money: $6,450
Glamping Grillers won Grand Champion at the VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition on November 3, 2023 in Vidalia, LA at 202 Vernon Stevens Blvd, scoring 709.1200 in a field of 27 teams. Kermit's Ex took Reserve Grand Champion with 704.5372. Category winners: Chicken — COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ (179.4400); Pork Ribs — Kermit's Ex (180.0000); Pork — WALK THE SWINE (180.0000); Brisket — SmokinGhost BBQ (179.4400). This is the 1st of 4 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2024.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
What it has taken to win here, 2023 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 67 times in 100
Glamping Grillers came in rated below the field's top team, Piggin' Whiskey, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Glamping Grillers won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
Chicken places 5–6: Ring of Fire and SmokinGhost BBQ tied on 176.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 1–2: Kermit's Ex and Italians Do It Better tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: WALK THE SWINE and Sheltered Smoke tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3, 2023 ← this one | Vidalia, LA | 202 Vernon Stevens Blvd | 27 | 709.1200 | Glamping Grillers | Kermit's Ex |
| Oct 25, 2024 | Vidalia, LA | 602 John Dale | 31 | 704.5140 | Poppa Pig? | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Vidalia, LA | 602 John Dale | 33 | 700.5256 | Sweet Bayou BBQ | Rankin County BBQ Company |
| Oct 23, 2026 | Vidalia, LA | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 176 | 171.9656 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 176.5600 | 173.1316 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4172 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 175.4056 | 171.9656 |
27 entries · top 709.1200 · median 677.0284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 2 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 3 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 4 | Poppa Pig | |
| 5 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 6 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 7 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 9 | Italians Do It Better | |
| 10 | Rankin County BBQ Company | |
| 11 | Cajun JuJu | |
| 12 | Sheltered Smoke | |
| 13 | Ring of Fire | |
| 14 | TLC Smokers | |
| 15 | United By BBQ | |
| 16 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 17 | PICKIN' AND GRILLIN | |
| 18 | Big D's BBQ | |
| 19 | Smoke KingZ | |
| 20 | New Tricks BBQ | |
| 21 | Jason Body Shop | |
| 22 | McDonald Collision | |
| 23 | Pafford EMS | |
| 24 | Concordia Bank & Trust Co | |
| 25 | Big New's BBQ | |
| 26 | Dizzy Dog's BBQ | |
| 27 | Smoking Hose |
27 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 3 | Poppa Pig | |
| 4 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 5 | Ring of Fire | |
| 6 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 7 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 8 | Cajun JuJu | |
| 9 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 10 | Rankin County BBQ Company | |
| 11 | TLC Smokers | |
| 12 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 13 | Italians Do It Better | |
| 14 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 15 | Sheltered Smoke | |
| 16 | Jason Body Shop | |
| 17 | United By BBQ | |
| 18 | Dizzy Dog's BBQ | |
| 19 | Concordia Bank & Trust Co | |
| 20 | Big New's BBQ | |
| 21 | PICKIN' AND GRILLIN | |
| 22 | Pafford EMS | |
| 23 | McDonald Collision | |
| 24 | New Tricks BBQ | |
| 25 | Smoking Hose | |
| 26 | Smoke KingZ | |
| 27 | Big D's BBQ |
27 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 2 | Italians Do It Better | |
| 3 | Rankin County BBQ Company | |
| 4 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 5 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 6 | Sheltered Smoke | |
| 7 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 8 | Cajun JuJu | |
| 9 | Ring of Fire | |
| 10 | Poppa Pig | |
| 11 | TLC Smokers | |
| 12 | United By BBQ | |
| 13 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 14 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 15 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 16 | Big D's BBQ | |
| 17 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 18 | Smoke KingZ | |
| 19 | Concordia Bank & Trust Co | |
| 20 | PICKIN' AND GRILLIN | |
| 21 | Pafford EMS | |
| 22 | Dizzy Dog's BBQ | |
| 23 | New Tricks BBQ | |
| 24 | McDonald Collision | |
| 25 | Jason Body Shop | |
| 26 | Smoking Hose | |
| 27 | Big New's BBQ |
27 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 2 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 3 | United By BBQ | |
| 4 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 5 | Poppa Pig | |
| 6 | Italians Do It Better | |
| 7 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 8 | Rankin County BBQ Company | |
| 9 | TLC Smokers | |
| 10 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 11 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 12 | Sheltered Smoke | |
| 13 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 14 | Ring of Fire | |
| 15 | Cajun JuJu | |
| 16 | New Tricks BBQ | |
| 17 | PICKIN' AND GRILLIN | |
| 18 | Smoke KingZ | |
| 19 | Jason Body Shop | |
| 20 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 21 | McDonald Collision | |
| 22 | Big New's BBQ | |
| 23 | Big D's BBQ | |
| 24 | Concordia Bank & Trust Co | |
| 25 | Pafford EMS | |
| 26 | Dizzy Dog's BBQ | |
| 27 | Smoking Hose |
27 entries · top 179.4400 · median 163.9428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 3 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 4 | Poppa Pig | |
| 5 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 7 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 8 | Sheltered Smoke | |
| 9 | Cajun JuJu | |
| 10 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 11 | Italians Do It Better | |
| 12 | Rankin County BBQ Company | |
| 13 | PICKIN' AND GRILLIN | |
| 14 | TLC Smokers | |
| 15 | Big D's BBQ | |
| 16 | United By BBQ | |
| 17 | Ring of Fire | |
| 18 | Pafford EMS | |
| 19 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 20 | Smoke KingZ | |
| 21 | Big New's BBQ | |
| 22 | McDonald Collision | |
| 23 | New Tricks BBQ | |
| 24 | Jason Body Shop | |
| 25 | Dizzy Dog's BBQ | |
| 26 | Smoking Hose | |
| 27 | Concordia Bank & Trust Co |