Iowa State BBQ Championship
2026-04-03 – 2026-04-04 · Altoona, IA · State championship
Reps: CINDY JUHL, TOM JUHL · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Wag's Backwoods BBQ (709.7028) · 42 teams
Entries
42
6 categories
Top score
360.0000
Winning margin
6.2856
GC over RC
Field average
337.18
median 338.51
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Tightest race
Chicken
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
344.5372
what a walk cost here
Field spread
69.2912
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 76%
beats 24% of 2715 overall wins in the data
Field strength
1588
avg power rating going in · stronger than 85% of contests
Storylines
🔥 A day of perfect scores
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🃏 An upset on the books
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, HOT DADDY'S BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 34-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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
This contest over the years
| Date | Where | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-21 | 28 | 693.7142 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 48 | 689.6800 | Porkrastinators |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 27 | 349.1200 | Damn Fine Beef and Swine |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | — | — | — |
| 2023-03-31 | Altoona, IA | 47 | 699.4288 | Gothic Town Grillers |
| 2024-03-29 | Altoona, IA | 42 | 701.1316 | Shiggin & Grinnin |
| 2025-04-04 | Altoona, IA | 49 | 693.6460 | Rack Shack BBQ |
| 2026-04-03 ← this one | Altoona, IA | 42 | 709.7028 | Wag's Backwoods BBQ |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Backyard Series — Chicken
36 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.9942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 2 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 3 | T-Dawg BBQ | |
| 4 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 5 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 6 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 7 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 8 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 10 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 11 | Family Tradition BBQ | |
| 12 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | |
| 13 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 14 | 10 In The Pit BBQ | |
| 15 | C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 17 | Barefoot BBQ | |
| 18 | Killer Rex BBQ | |
| 19 | BootsBBQ | |
| 20 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 21 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 22 | Smokey Bros Barbecue | |
| 23 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 24 | East Bow Que | |
| 25 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 26 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 27 | Blades&Muellers BBQ | |
| 28 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 29 | Kolder Q | |
| 30 | B&D BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke N Poke BBQ | |
| 32 | Brown Dog BBQ | |
| 33 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 34 | Boneheads BBQ | |
| 35 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 36 | JK Smoken BBQ |
Backyard Series — Overall
36 entries · top 360.0000 · median 338.5086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 2 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 3 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 4 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 6 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 7 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 8 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 9 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 10 | 10 In The Pit BBQ | |
| 11 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 13 | Family Tradition BBQ | |
| 14 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 15 | Barefoot BBQ | |
| 16 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 17 | T-Dawg BBQ | |
| 18 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 19 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 20 | Smokey Bros Barbecue | |
| 21 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 22 | BootsBBQ | |
| 23 | East Bow Que | |
| 24 | C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ | |
| 25 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 26 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 27 | Kolder Q | |
| 28 | Killer Rex BBQ | |
| 29 | Brown Dog BBQ | |
| 30 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 31 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 32 | Smoke N Poke BBQ | |
| 33 | B&D BBQ | |
| 34 | Blades&Muellers BBQ | |
| 35 | Boneheads BBQ | |
| 36 | JK Smoken BBQ |
Backyard Series — Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.5314 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 2 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 3 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 4 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 6 | 10 In The Pit BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 8 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 9 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 10 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 11 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | |
| 12 | Barefoot BBQ | |
| 13 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 14 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 15 | Family Tradition BBQ | |
| 16 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 17 | Kolder Q | |
| 18 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 19 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 20 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 21 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 22 | Smokey Bros Barbecue | |
| 23 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 24 | Brown Dog BBQ | |
| 25 | East Bow Que | |
| 26 | BootsBBQ | |
| 27 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 28 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 29 | Smoke N Poke BBQ | |
| 30 | C&S Barrel-Fire BBQ | |
| 31 | Killer Rex BBQ | |
| 32 | T-Dawg BBQ | |
| 33 | B&D BBQ | |
| 34 | Boneheads BBQ | |
| 35 | JK Smoken BBQ | |
| 36 | Blades&Muellers BBQ |
Master Series — Brisket
42 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 2 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 3 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 4 | Sugar Shack | |
| 5 | Castiron Cookers | |
| 6 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 7 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 8 | Justice BBQ | |
| 9 | C&M BBQ | |
| 10 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 11 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 12 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 13 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 14 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 15 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 16 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 17 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 18 | Matty Macks | |
| 19 | Ambition Que | |
| 20 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 21 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 22 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 24 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 25 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 26 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 27 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 28 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 29 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 30 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 32 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 33 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 34 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 35 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 36 | Broke Boys BBQ | |
| 37 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 38 | Low Eye Que | |
| 39 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 40 | Tried & True BBQ | |
| 41 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 42 | Electric Tomato BBQ |
Master Series — Chicken
42 entries · top 178.2972 · median 171.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 3 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 4 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 6 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 7 | Matty Macks | |
| 8 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 9 | C&M BBQ | |
| 10 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 11 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 12 | Ambition Que | |
| 13 | Broke Boys BBQ | |
| 14 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 15 | Castiron Cookers | |
| 16 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 17 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 18 | Justice BBQ | |
| 19 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 20 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 21 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 22 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 23 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 24 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 25 | Sugar Shack | |
| 26 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 27 | Low Eye Que | |
| 28 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 29 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 30 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 31 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 32 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 33 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 34 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 35 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 36 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 37 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 38 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 39 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 40 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 41 | Electric Tomato BBQ | |
| 42 | Tried & True BBQ |
Master Series — Overall
42 entries · top 709.7028 · median 677.8916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | Sugar Shack | |
| 3 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 4 | Justice BBQ | |
| 5 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 6 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 7 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 8 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 9 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 10 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 11 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 12 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 13 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 15 | Castiron Cookers | |
| 16 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 18 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 19 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 21 | Matty Macks | |
| 22 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 23 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 24 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 25 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 26 | Ambition Que | |
| 27 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 28 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 29 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 30 | Broke Boys BBQ | |
| 31 | Low Eye Que | |
| 32 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 33 | C&M BBQ | |
| 34 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 35 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 36 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 37 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 38 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 39 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 40 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 41 | Electric Tomato BBQ | |
| 42 | Tried & True BBQ |
Master Series — Pork
42 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 3 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 4 | Justice BBQ | |
| 5 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 6 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 7 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 8 | Sugar Shack | |
| 9 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 10 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 11 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 12 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 13 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 14 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 15 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 16 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 17 | Broke Boys BBQ | |
| 18 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 19 | Low Eye Que | |
| 20 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 21 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 23 | Ambition Que | |
| 24 | Castiron Cookers | |
| 25 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 26 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 27 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 28 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 29 | Matty Macks | |
| 30 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 31 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 32 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 33 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 34 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 35 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 36 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 37 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 38 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 39 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 40 | Electric Tomato BBQ | |
| 41 | C&M BBQ | |
| 42 | Tried & True BBQ |
Master Series — Pork Ribs
42 entries · top 180.0000 · median 167.9714 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 3 | Sugar Shack | |
| 4 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 5 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 6 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 7 | Low Eye Que | |
| 8 | Justice BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 10 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 11 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 12 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 13 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 14 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 15 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 16 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 17 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 18 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 19 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 20 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 21 | C&M BBQ | |
| 22 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 24 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 25 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 26 | Broke Boys BBQ | |
| 27 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 28 | Castiron Cookers | |
| 29 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 30 | Matty Macks | |
| 31 | Byg's BBQ | |
| 32 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 33 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 34 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 35 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 36 | Tried & True BBQ | |
| 37 | Electric Tomato BBQ | |
| 38 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 39 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 40 | Ambition Que | |
| 41 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 42 | The Smoking Silverback |