Jun 2–3, 2017 · Huron, SD · 📍 890 3rd st. SW
TRUE SMOKE BBQ won Grand Champion at the Original SD BBQ Championships on June 2, 2017 in Huron, SD at 890 3rd st. SW, scoring 698.2744 in a field of 32 teams. THE TWISTED TAIL took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.0628. Category winners: Chicken — LAST CALL HEROES BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — TRUE SMOKE BBQ (180.0000); Pork — BEER BELLY BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — TRUE SMOKE BBQ (177.7144). This is the 4th of 12 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by PARROTHEAD SMOKERS; the next was held in 2023.
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 2026 — 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 77% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.2116 points — closer than 77% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 69 times in 100
TRUE SMOKE BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, PARROTHEAD SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 31-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
2 of 12 tracked editions
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
Pork places 1–2: BEER BELLY BBQ and BARK 'N BONES BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 3–4: RICHIE Z's and TRUE SMOKE BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: TRUE SMOKE BBQ and LAST CALL HEROES BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
TRUE SMOKE BBQ won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
TRUE SMOKE BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 14th.
LAST CALL HEROES BBQ turned in 178.8572 in chicken — past the 176.0000 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: PARROTHEAD SMOKERS (won 2013, 2016).
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2013 | Huron, SD | Huron, SD | 41 | 685.1430 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | HOG'S BREATH BBQ |
| Jun 5, 2015 | Huron, SD | Huron, SD 57350 | 41 | 700.5944 | PIGTAMER BBQ | EGGSPERT BBQ |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Huron, SD | Huron, SD | 44 | 694.2744 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | GERRIT BOYS BARBEQUE |
| Jun 2, 2017 ← this one | Huron, SD | 890 3rd st. SW | 32 | 698.2744 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | THE TWISTED TAIL |
| Jun 1, 2023 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd st SW | 24 | 172.5600 | COLORADO BULLDAWGS | — |
| Jun 2, 2023 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd st SW | 39 | 694.2516 | BnB BBQ | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd St SW | 34 | 706.8572 | Mr. Dude's BBQ | Eggspert BBQ |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd St SW | 19 | 176.5828 | Fernando's Rib Company | — |
| Jun 5, 2025 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd St SW | 29 | 176 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | — |
| Jun 6, 2025 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd St SW | 48 | 702.3200 | RUM N' SMOKE BBQ | Byg's BBQ |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd St SW | 48 | 703.3944 | COLORADO BULLDAWG BBQ | BYG'S BBQ |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Huron, SD | 1060 3rd St SW | 29 | 177.7144 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176 | 169.1200 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 172.5600 | 168.5600 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4172 | 171.4172 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 174.8456 | 170.2628 |
32 entries · top 698.2744 · median 667.3200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | THE TWISTED TAIL | |
| 3 | BARK 'N BONES BBQ | |
| 4 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 5 | EGGSPERT BBQ | |
| 6 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 7 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 8 | SPITFIRE | |
| 9 | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG | |
| 10 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 11 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 12 | FARGO BARBECUE | |
| 13 | SMOKE ON THE PRAIRIE BBQ - WY | |
| 14 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 15 | SCRUM DOWN SMOKERS | |
| 16 | BACKROADS BBQ | |
| 17 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 18 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 19 | Dakota Smoke BBQ | |
| 20 | J.R.'S RHODEHOUSE "Q" PITS | |
| 21 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 22 | PAPA'S PIT CREW | |
| 23 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ SD | |
| 24 | QUIET RIOT BBQ | |
| 25 | Bare Butts BBQ | |
| 26 | Big Hoss BBQ | |
| 27 | SHAGAN PIT | |
| 28 | CRF BLUE RIBB'N BBQ | |
| 29 | THE WOLF PACK | |
| 30 | Shamrock Smokers | |
| 31 | Team Sasquatch | |
| 32 | Rub-N-Sauce |
32 entries · top 178.8572 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 2 | FARGO BARBECUE | |
| 3 | EGGSPERT BBQ | |
| 4 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 5 | BARK 'N BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 7 | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG | |
| 8 | SCRUM DOWN SMOKERS | |
| 9 | THE TWISTED TAIL | |
| 10 | SMOKE ON THE PRAIRIE BBQ - WY | |
| 11 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 12 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 13 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 14 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | SPITFIRE | |
| 16 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 17 | Bare Butts BBQ | |
| 18 | Big Hoss BBQ | |
| 19 | Dakota Smoke BBQ | |
| 20 | QUIET RIOT BBQ | |
| 21 | PAPA'S PIT CREW | |
| 22 | J.R.'S RHODEHOUSE "Q" PITS | |
| 23 | BACKROADS BBQ | |
| 24 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 25 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ SD | |
| 26 | THE WOLF PACK | |
| 27 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 28 | Shamrock Smokers | |
| 29 | Rub-N-Sauce | |
| 30 | Team Sasquatch | |
| 31 | SHAGAN PIT | |
| 32 | CRF BLUE RIBB'N BBQ |
32 entries · top 180 · median 165.7086 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | THE TWISTED TAIL | |
| 3 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | EGGSPERT BBQ | |
| 6 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 7 | BARK 'N BONES BBQ | |
| 8 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 9 | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG | |
| 10 | Team Sasquatch | |
| 11 | Dakota Smoke BBQ | |
| 12 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 13 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 14 | THE WOLF PACK | |
| 15 | SCRUM DOWN SMOKERS | |
| 16 | BACKROADS BBQ | |
| 17 | CRF BLUE RIBB'N BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE ON THE PRAIRIE BBQ - WY | |
| 19 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 20 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 21 | FARGO BARBECUE | |
| 22 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 23 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ SD | |
| 24 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 25 | J.R.'S RHODEHOUSE "Q" PITS | |
| 26 | Big Hoss BBQ | |
| 27 | PAPA'S PIT CREW | |
| 28 | SHAGAN PIT | |
| 29 | Bare Butts BBQ | |
| 30 | Rub-N-Sauce | |
| 31 | Shamrock Smokers | |
| 32 | QUIET RIOT BBQ |
32 entries · top 180 · median 166.0286 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 2 | BARK 'N BONES BBQ | |
| 3 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 4 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 6 | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG | |
| 7 | SCRUM DOWN SMOKERS | |
| 8 | THE TWISTED TAIL | |
| 9 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 10 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 11 | FARGO BARBECUE | |
| 12 | SPITFIRE | |
| 13 | SMOKE ON THE PRAIRIE BBQ - WY | |
| 14 | J.R.'S RHODEHOUSE "Q" PITS | |
| 15 | EGGSPERT BBQ | |
| 16 | QUIET RIOT BBQ | |
| 17 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 18 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 19 | BACKROADS BBQ | |
| 20 | Dakota Smoke BBQ | |
| 21 | PAPA'S PIT CREW | |
| 22 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 23 | SHAGAN PIT | |
| 24 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 25 | Big Hoss BBQ | |
| 26 | Bare Butts BBQ | |
| 27 | Team Sasquatch | |
| 28 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ SD | |
| 29 | Shamrock Smokers | |
| 30 | THE WOLF PACK | |
| 31 | Rub-N-Sauce | |
| 32 | CRF BLUE RIBB'N BBQ |
32 entries · top 177.7144 · median 166.8114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | BACKROADS BBQ | |
| 3 | THE TWISTED TAIL | |
| 4 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 5 | CRF BLUE RIBB'N BBQ | |
| 6 | SPITFIRE | |
| 7 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 8 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 9 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 10 | EGGSPERT BBQ | |
| 11 | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG | |
| 12 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 13 | PAPA'S PIT CREW | |
| 14 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 15 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ SD | |
| 16 | SMOKE ON THE PRAIRIE BBQ - WY | |
| 17 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 18 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 19 | BARK 'N BONES BBQ | |
| 20 | SHAGAN PIT | |
| 21 | Dakota Smoke BBQ | |
| 22 | Shamrock Smokers | |
| 23 | J.R.'S RHODEHOUSE "Q" PITS | |
| 24 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 25 | FARGO BARBECUE | |
| 26 | SCRUM DOWN SMOKERS | |
| 27 | QUIET RIOT BBQ | |
| 28 | Bare Butts BBQ | |
| 29 | Rub-N-Sauce | |
| 30 | THE WOLF PACK | |
| 31 | Big Hoss BBQ | |
| 32 | Team Sasquatch |