Sep 20–21, 2019 · Denison, IA · 📍 Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) · State championship
Reps: Dena Milhous, Ron Milhous · Prize money: $13,000
TIMBONE BARBECUE won Grand Champion at the Tri City BBQ Fest on September 20, 2019 in Denison, IA at Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison), scoring 690.7540 in a field of 34 teams. SPITFIRE took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2740. Category winners: Chicken — LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY (177.7144); Pork Ribs — LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY (176.0000); Pork — LUCKY'S Q (180.0000); Brisket — SPITFIRE (178.8572). This is the 6th of 12 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by TIMBONE BARBECUE; the next was held in 2021.
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, 2014 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 95% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.4800 points — closer than 95% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 80 times in 100
TIMBONE BARBECUE came in rated below the field's top team, LUCKY'S Q, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 20-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Timbone Barbecue won here last time out too — 2 straight editions of this contest.
TIMBONE BARBECUE won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 2 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 12 tracked editions
TIMBONE BARBECUE has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
Chicken places 9–10: DIRT ROAD BBQ and BAMBQ tied on 170.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: DRY 2 DA BONE and WHEN PIGS DIE tied on 179.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: HOGLINE and ALL FORKED UP FOR Q tied on 177.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
LUCKY'S Q turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 178.2972 that had stood across 5 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SPITFIRE (won 2017), TIMBONE BARBECUE (won 2018).
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 ← this one | 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 | 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 |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 173.7144 | 170.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 176 | 171.9884 | 168.5600 |
| Pork | 180 | 177.1544 | 173.1084 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 176.5716 | 171.9656 |
34 entries · top 690.7540 · median 667.0054
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 2 | SPITFIRE | |
| 3 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 4 | HOGLINE | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 7 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 8 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 9 | TREEFROG BBQ | |
| 10 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 11 | BAMBQ | |
| 12 | STAR CITY BBQ | |
| 13 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 14 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 15 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 16 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 17 | Que Magic | |
| 18 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 19 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 21 | REDNECK BBQ | |
| 22 | Hardwood BBQ | |
| 23 | Smokin' Double R | |
| 24 | 10 Ring BBQ Team | |
| 25 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 26 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 27 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 28 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 29 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 30 | Smokin B's | |
| 31 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 32 | Parkside Brewing Co | |
| 33 | Old Outlaw | |
| 34 | GRILLIN' GRINDES |
34 entries · top 177.7144 · median 166.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 2 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 3 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 6 | Smokin' Double R | |
| 7 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 8 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 9 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 10 | BAMBQ | |
| 11 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 12 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 13 | 10 Ring BBQ Team | |
| 14 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 15 | Hardwood BBQ | |
| 16 | REDNECK BBQ | |
| 17 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 18 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 19 | HOGLINE | |
| 20 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 21 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 22 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 23 | TREEFROG BBQ | |
| 24 | Que Magic | |
| 25 | STAR CITY BBQ | |
| 26 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 27 | Parkside Brewing Co | |
| 28 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 29 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 30 | Smokin B's | |
| 31 | Old Outlaw | |
| 32 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 33 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 34 | GRILLIN' GRINDES |
34 entries · top 176 · median 165.4058
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 2 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 3 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 4 | Que Magic | |
| 5 | STAR CITY BBQ | |
| 6 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 7 | Hardwood BBQ | |
| 8 | Parkside Brewing Co | |
| 9 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 10 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 11 | 10 Ring BBQ Team | |
| 12 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 13 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 14 | TREEFROG BBQ | |
| 15 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 16 | BAMBQ | |
| 17 | Smokin B's | |
| 18 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 19 | REDNECK BBQ | |
| 20 | HOGLINE | |
| 21 | SPITFIRE | |
| 22 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 23 | Smokin' Double R | |
| 24 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 25 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 26 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 27 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 28 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 29 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 30 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 31 | Old Outlaw | |
| 32 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 33 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 34 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q |
34 entries · top 180 · median 168 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 2 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 3 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 4 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 5 | HOGLINE | |
| 6 | Que Magic | |
| 7 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 8 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 9 | SPITFIRE | |
| 10 | STAR CITY BBQ | |
| 11 | Hardwood BBQ | |
| 12 | TREEFROG BBQ | |
| 13 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 14 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 15 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 16 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 17 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 18 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 19 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 20 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 21 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 22 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 23 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 24 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 25 | BAMBQ | |
| 26 | Old Outlaw | |
| 27 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 28 | REDNECK BBQ | |
| 29 | 10 Ring BBQ Team | |
| 30 | Smokin' Double R | |
| 31 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 33 | Smokin B's | |
| 34 | Parkside Brewing Co |
34 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 3 | HOGLINE | |
| 4 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 5 | BAMBQ | |
| 6 | TREEFROG BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 8 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 9 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 10 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 12 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 13 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 14 | REDNECK BBQ | |
| 15 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 16 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 17 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 18 | STAR CITY BBQ | |
| 19 | Smokin' Double R | |
| 20 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 21 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 22 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 23 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 24 | 10 Ring BBQ Team | |
| 25 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 26 | Que Magic | |
| 27 | Smokin B's | |
| 28 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 29 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 30 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 31 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 32 | Hardwood BBQ | |
| 33 | Old Outlaw | |
| 34 | Parkside Brewing Co |