A new contest record
703.4060
highest overall ever cooked here
703.4060 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 703.3712 Last Call Heros BBQ set in 2023.
- old record 703.3712
- set 2023 by Last Call Heros BBQ
Tri-City BBQ Fest 2025
Sep 19–20, 2025 · Denison, IA · 📍 109 N. Main · State championship
Reps: Dave Rogers, Peg Rogers · Prize money: $12,400
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN won Grand Champion at the Tri-City BBQ Fest on September 19, 2025 in Denison, IA at 109 N. Main, scoring 703.4060 in a field of 26 teams. Good Grefe! took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.6572. Category winners: Chicken — WHEN PIGS DIE (178.8572); Pork Ribs — WHEN PIGS DIE (176.5600); Pork — TEAM CRAWFORD (180.0000); Brisket — Bucknutz BBQ (179.4400). The Backyard Series standings were won by Chester's Twisted Que with 339.4400. This is the 11th of 12 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by HOT DADDY'S BBQ; the next was held in 2026.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
646.13
median 681.58
703.41 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.86
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 176.56
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 179.44
- Backyard Series — Chicken 175.44
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 170.88
145.65
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2014 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
26
6 judged meats
Top score
703.4060
Winning margin
5.7488
GC over RC
Field average
678.16
646.13703.41
median 681.58 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.5884
646.13703.41
10th place overall
Field spread
57.2800
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,400
on the line
Double threats
9
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 20%
beats 80% of 4723 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
54%
21 of 39 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.37 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,575
avg power rating going in · stronger than 59% of contests
Storylines (8 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 3rd
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 12 tracked editions
TIMBONE BARBECUE has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
- 2018
- 2019
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: GRILLIN' GRINDES and Mad Ashley's BBQ tied on 178.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: Mr. Dudes BBQ and Low Eye Que tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 4–5: Good Grefe! and SHIGGIN & GRINNIN tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 7–8 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
WHEN PIGS DIE won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
A contest record in brisket
179.4400
best brisket ever cooked here
Bucknutz BBQ turned in 179.4400 in brisket — past the 178.8800 that had stood across 10 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8800
- across 10 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SPITFIRE (won 2017), Hot Daddys BBQ (won 2021, 2024).
- SPITFIRE · 2017
- Hot Daddys BBQ · 2021, 2024
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- TEAM CRAWFORD · Pork
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2014 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 21 | 691.3940 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 18 | 690.7884 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Denison, IA | Broodway & Main | 34 | 701.6800 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 37 | 702.3204 | SPITFIRE | LUCKY'S Q |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 27 | 687.9888 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 34 | 690.7540 | Timbone Barbecue | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 17, 2021 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 20 | 697.6572 | Hot Daddys BBQ | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 25 | 693.1316 | Parrothead Smokers SD | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 32 | 703.3712 | Last Call Heros BBQ | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 30 | 700.4912 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 19, 2025 ← this one | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 703.4060 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Good Grefe! |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 702.2400 | Grillin' Grindes | Home Farm BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 174.2744 | 169.6916 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 176 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 179.4400 | 174.2628 | 171.4056 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 175.4400 | 159.9544 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 170.8800 | 167.4172 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
26 entries · top 703.4060 · median 681.5768
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 2 | Good Grefe! | |
| 3 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 6 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 7 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 8 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 9 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 10 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 12 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 13 | Low Eye Que | |
| 14 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 15 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 16 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 19 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 20 | Mad Ashley's BBQ | |
| 21 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 22 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 23 | Teenie Weenie BBQ | |
| 24 | Three Casual Smokers | |
| 25 | Goose is Loose BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKE DOCTOR |
Chicken
26 entries · top 178.8572 · median 172.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 2 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 3 | Mad Ashley's BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Good Grefe! | |
| 6 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 7 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 8 | Low Eye Que | |
| 9 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 10 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 11 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 12 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 13 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 14 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 15 | SPITFIRE | |
| 16 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 19 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 20 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 21 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 22 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 23 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 24 | Goose is Loose BBQ | |
| 25 | Three Casual Smokers | |
| 26 | Teenie Weenie BBQ |
Pork Ribs
26 entries · top 176.5600 · median 167.1142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 2 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 3 | SPITFIRE | |
| 4 | Good Grefe! | |
| 5 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 6 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 7 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 8 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 9 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 10 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 11 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 13 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 14 | Mad Ashley's BBQ | |
| 15 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 17 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 18 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 19 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 20 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 21 | Teenie Weenie BBQ | |
| 22 | Low Eye Que | |
| 23 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 24 | Three Casual Smokers | |
| 25 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 26 | Goose is Loose BBQ |
Pork
26 entries · top 180 · median 171.1256 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 2 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 3 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 4 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 5 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 6 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 7 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 8 | Good Grefe! | |
| 9 | SPITFIRE | |
| 10 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 11 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 12 | Low Eye Que | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 15 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 16 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 17 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 18 | Teenie Weenie BBQ | |
| 19 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 21 | Goose is Loose BBQ | |
| 22 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 23 | Three Casual Smokers | |
| 24 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 25 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 26 | Mad Ashley's BBQ |
Brisket
26 entries · top 179.4400 · median 170.5486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 2 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 3 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 4 | Mad Ashley's BBQ | |
| 5 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 7 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 8 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 9 | Good Grefe! | |
| 10 | SPITFIRE | |
| 11 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Low Eye Que | |
| 14 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 15 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 16 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 17 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 18 | Teenie Weenie BBQ | |
| 19 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 20 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 21 | Goose is Loose BBQ | |
| 22 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 23 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 24 | Three Casual Smokers | |
| 25 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 26 | SMOKE DOCTOR |
Backyard Series
Overall
8 entries · top 339.4400 · median 329.9658
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 2 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 3 | Smokin B's | |
| 4 | Smoke'n Poke | |
| 5 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 6 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 7 | Brown Dog BBQ | |
| 8 | Smokin Devil Dogs |
Chicken
8 entries · top 175.4400 · median 162.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 2 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 3 | Smokin B's | |
| 4 | Smoke'n Poke | |
| 5 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 6 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 7 | Smokin Devil Dogs | |
| 8 | Brown Dog BBQ |
Pork Ribs
8 entries · top 170.8800 · median 167.4286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown Dog BBQ | |
| 2 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 3 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 4 | Smoke'n Poke | |
| 5 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 6 | Smokin B's | |
| 7 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 8 | Smokin Devil Dogs |