May 30–31, 2025 · Owatonna, MN · 📍 18th St SE & Elm Ave · State championship
Reps: Dave Rogers, John Scharffbillig, Peg Rogers · Prize money: $5,000
DRY 2 DA BONE won Grand Champion at the Smokin' in Steele on May 30, 2025 in Owatonna, MN at 18th St SE & Elm Ave, scoring 697.0856 in a field of 28 teams. HOT DADDY'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9084. Category winners: Chicken — WHEN PIGS DIE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — KPG SMOKIN' (178.8572); Pork — Hogline BBQ (176.5600); Brisket — UGLY BABY BBQ (177.7028). The Backyard Series standings were won by Sassy Smoke BBQ with 345.1772. This is the 10th of 10 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by T-Rex bbq.
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, 2013 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.
Closer than 78% of the 4,722 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1772 points — closer than 78% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 67 times in 100
DRY 2 DA BONE came in rated below the field's top team, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
DRY 2 DA BONE won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 2.2972 points.
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: HOT DADDY'S BBQ and KPG SMOKIN' tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: MAN MEAT BBQ and LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 5–6: MACHETE BOYS BBQ and HOT DADDY'S BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Ash Kickin' BBQ (won 2022), Wags Backwoods BBQ (won 2023), T-Rex bbq (won 2024).
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2013 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN | 51 | 697.7148 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | JAESTAR BBQ |
| May 30, 2014 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 67 | 699.4056 | LUCKY'S Q | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 53 | 689.6684 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Jun 2, 2017 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 46 | 691.3140 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW |
| Jun 1, 2018 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 45 | 697.6688 | HOGLINE | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| May 31, 2019 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar Ave | 43 | 697.6916 | Lucky 19 Sauce Co | HOGLINE |
| Jun 3, 2022 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 33 | 689.6684 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Jun 2, 2023 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 29 | 692.5600 | Wags Backwoods BBQ | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
| May 31, 2024 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 32 | 699.9656 | T-Rex bbq | MACHETE BOYS BBQ |
| May 30, 2025 ← this one | Owatonna, MN | 18th St SE & Elm Ave | 28 | 697.0856 | Dry 2 Da Bone | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 173.1316 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 173.1200 | 171.9772 |
| Master Series — Pork | 176.5600 | 174.2628 | 172 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.8456 | 171.9656 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 173.7372 | 172.0228 | 168.5600 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 178.3200 | 171.4284 | 169.7372 |
28 entries · top 697.0856 · median 683.8972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 2 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 4 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 5 | KPG SMOKIN' | |
| 6 | Ambition Que | |
| 7 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 8 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 9 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 10 | SPITFIRE | |
| 11 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 12 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 13 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 14 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 15 | PO PO PORK | |
| 16 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 17 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 19 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 20 | Numb Numb BBQ | |
| 21 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 22 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 23 | Good Grefe! | |
| 24 | The Q Crew | |
| 25 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 26 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 27 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 28 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS |
28 entries · top 180 · median 171.9714 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 2 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | KPG SMOKIN' | |
| 4 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 5 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 6 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 7 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 8 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 9 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 10 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 11 | SPITFIRE | |
| 12 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 13 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 14 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 15 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 16 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 17 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 18 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 19 | Numb Numb BBQ | |
| 20 | Ambition Que | |
| 21 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 23 | Good Grefe! | |
| 24 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 25 | PO PO PORK | |
| 26 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 27 | The Q Crew | |
| 28 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS |
28 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KPG SMOKIN' | |
| 2 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 5 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 6 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 8 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 9 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 10 | Ambition Que | |
| 11 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 12 | PO PO PORK | |
| 13 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 15 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 16 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 17 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 18 | SPITFIRE | |
| 19 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 20 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 21 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 22 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 23 | Numb Numb BBQ | |
| 24 | The Q Crew | |
| 25 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 26 | Good Grefe! | |
| 27 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 28 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE |
28 entries · top 176.5600 · median 169.6914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 2 | PO PO PORK | |
| 3 | Ambition Que | |
| 4 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 6 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 7 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 8 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 9 | The Q Crew | |
| 10 | Numb Numb BBQ | |
| 11 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 12 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 13 | SPITFIRE | |
| 14 | KPG SMOKIN' | |
| 15 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 17 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 18 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 19 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 20 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 21 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 22 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 23 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 24 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 25 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 26 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 27 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 28 | Good Grefe! |
27 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 2 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 3 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 4 | Ambition Que | |
| 5 | SPITFIRE | |
| 6 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 7 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 8 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 9 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 10 | PO PO PORK | |
| 11 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 12 | Good Grefe! | |
| 13 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 15 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 16 | KPG SMOKIN' | |
| 17 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 21 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 22 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 23 | Numb Numb BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 25 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 26 | The Q Crew | |
| 27 | NEVER EASY BBQ |
22 entries · top 345.1772 · median 337.1370
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sassy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 3 | Big Bear BBQ | |
| 4 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 5 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 6 | Barefoot BBQ | |
| 7 | Motley Crew BBQ | |
| 8 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 9 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 10 | Natural Born Grillers | |
| 11 | Briskey Business BBQ | |
| 12 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 13 | 901Q | |
| 14 | Northern South | |
| 15 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 16 | Smokin Gopher | |
| 17 | Squealers BBQ | |
| 18 | Heavy Smoke Showing | |
| 19 | Pig Penn BBQ | |
| 20 | Imperial BBQ | |
| 21 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 22 | LoCo BBQ |
22 entries · top 173.7372 · median 167.4114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Born Grillers | |
| 2 | Sassy Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | Barefoot BBQ | |
| 4 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 5 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 6 | Big Bear BBQ | |
| 7 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 8 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 9 | Motley Crew BBQ | |
| 10 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 11 | Briskey Business BBQ | |
| 12 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 13 | 901Q | |
| 14 | Pig Penn BBQ | |
| 15 | Heavy Smoke Showing | |
| 16 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 17 | Smokin Gopher | |
| 18 | Northern South | |
| 19 | Squealers BBQ | |
| 20 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 21 | LoCo BBQ | |
| 22 | Imperial BBQ |
22 entries · top 178.3200 · median 169.1486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 2 | Big Bear BBQ | |
| 3 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 4 | Sassy Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 6 | Squealers BBQ | |
| 7 | Motley Crew BBQ | |
| 8 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 9 | Northern South | |
| 10 | Barefoot BBQ | |
| 11 | 901Q | |
| 12 | Briskey Business BBQ | |
| 13 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 14 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 15 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 16 | Natural Born Grillers | |
| 17 | Imperial BBQ | |
| 18 | Smokin Gopher | |
| 19 | LoCo BBQ | |
| 20 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 21 | Heavy Smoke Showing | |
| 22 | Pig Penn BBQ |