Apr 9–10, 2021 · Gadsden, AL · State championship
Reps: Chere Amend, Dave Amend, Janet Appleton, Sam Appleton
CHICKEN FRIED BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls on April 9, 2021 in Gadsden, AL, scoring 699.3600 in a field of 38 teams. LC BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9428. Category winners: Chicken — ATLANTA BBQ STORE (177.7028); Pork Ribs — LC BBQ (178.8572); Pork — TASTE OF GRACE (177.7028); Brisket — REDMULE'S BBQ (177.7028). The Backyard Series standings were won by The Real Squeal BBQ with 349.1656. This is the 7th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2020 edition was won by Rooters-N-Tooters; the next was held in 2022.
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.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 85 times in 100
CHICKEN FRIED BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 15-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
CHICKEN FRIED BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 11 tracked editions
The Specialists has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: ATLANTA BBQ STORE and CONTAGIOUS Q tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: VALLEE AC COLD SMOKE and SMOKIN BUTT CREW tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 2–3: CHOOCHOO BBQ and SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SMOKIN BUTT CREW (won 2017), Contagious Q (won 2019).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2013 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL | 34 | 696.5718 | SWIGGIN PIG | BIG BLUE QUE |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35904 | 34 | 699.9884 | The Specialists | UNCULTURED SWINE |
| Apr 7, 2017 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 704.5488 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 13, 2018 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 38 | 697.1084 | THE SPECIALISTS | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 30 | 699.9656 | Contagious Q | CHOOCHOO BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 699.3944 | Rooters-N-Tooters | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 9, 2021 ← this one | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35901 | 38 | 699.3600 | chicken fried bbq | LC BBQ |
| Apr 8, 2022 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 34 | 700.5028 | Smoke Me Silly | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 39 | 690.8000 | We Will Rock 'Que | COOL HAND QUE |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 31 | 699.9428 | We Will Rock 'Que | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 36 | 714.2628 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | COOL HAND QUE |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 173.1084 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 173.7028 | 170.8112 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7028 | 173.7144 | 171.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.2628 | 171.4056 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 176 | 173.7028 | 171.9656 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 173.7028 | 170.8456 |
38 entries · top 699.3600 · median 667.8626
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 2 | LC BBQ | |
| 3 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 6 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 7 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 8 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 9 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 10 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 11 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 12 | 3 RIVERS BBQ | |
| 13 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 14 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 15 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 16 | VALLEE AC COLD SMOKE | |
| 17 | Organizer Portal | |
| 18 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 19 | J&B's BBQ | |
| 20 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 21 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 22 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 23 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 24 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 25 | Sheats Smoked | |
| 26 | Jury's Out | |
| 27 | Willingham's | |
| 28 | Hammondville Hawg Mafia | |
| 29 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 30 | Smokin Chuck's Wagon | |
| 31 | 2nd Hand Smoke | |
| 32 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 33 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 34 | Lookout BBQ Company | |
| 35 | Sweet Cheeks Pit BBQ | |
| 36 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 37 | Jammin BBQ | |
| 38 | ROLLIN KOLBZ |
38 entries · top 177.7028 · median 169.3942
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 2 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 5 | Smokin Chuck's Wagon | |
| 6 | VALLEE AC COLD SMOKE | |
| 7 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 8 | J&B's BBQ | |
| 9 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 10 | 2nd Hand Smoke | |
| 11 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 12 | LC BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 14 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 15 | Organizer Portal | |
| 16 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 17 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 18 | Sheats Smoked | |
| 19 | Willingham's | |
| 20 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 21 | Hammondville Hawg Mafia | |
| 22 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 23 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 24 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 25 | 3 RIVERS BBQ | |
| 26 | Jury's Out | |
| 27 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 28 | Lookout BBQ Company | |
| 29 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 30 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 31 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 32 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 33 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 34 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 35 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 36 | Sweet Cheeks Pit BBQ | |
| 37 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 38 | Jammin BBQ |
38 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.3886
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LC BBQ | |
| 2 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 3 | VALLEE AC COLD SMOKE | |
| 4 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 6 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 7 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 8 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 9 | 3 RIVERS BBQ | |
| 10 | Organizer Portal | |
| 11 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 12 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 13 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 14 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 15 | Smokin Chuck's Wagon | |
| 16 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 17 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 18 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 19 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 20 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 21 | Hammondville Hawg Mafia | |
| 22 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 23 | Sheats Smoked | |
| 24 | J&B's BBQ | |
| 25 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 26 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 27 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 28 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 29 | Jury's Out | |
| 30 | Lookout BBQ Company | |
| 31 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 32 | 2nd Hand Smoke | |
| 33 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 34 | Willingham's | |
| 35 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 36 | Jammin BBQ | |
| 37 | Sweet Cheeks Pit BBQ | |
| 38 | FAT BEAR BBQ |
37 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 2 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 3 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 4 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 5 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 7 | LC BBQ | |
| 8 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 9 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 11 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 12 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 13 | Jammin BBQ | |
| 14 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 15 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 16 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 17 | 3 RIVERS BBQ | |
| 18 | Sheats Smoked | |
| 19 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 21 | Organizer Portal | |
| 22 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 23 | Lookout BBQ Company | |
| 24 | Willingham's | |
| 25 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 26 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 27 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 28 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 29 | J&B's BBQ | |
| 30 | Hammondville Hawg Mafia | |
| 31 | Sweet Cheeks Pit BBQ | |
| 32 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 33 | VALLEE AC COLD SMOKE | |
| 34 | Jury's Out | |
| 35 | Smokin Chuck's Wagon | |
| 36 | 2nd Hand Smoke | |
| 37 | Rub'd -N- Smoke |
38 entries · top 177.7028 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 2 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 5 | Jury's Out | |
| 6 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 7 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 8 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 9 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 10 | LC BBQ | |
| 11 | Willingham's | |
| 12 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 13 | 2 MEN AND A PIG | |
| 14 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 15 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 16 | 3 RIVERS BBQ | |
| 17 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 18 | 2nd Hand Smoke | |
| 19 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 20 | J&B's BBQ | |
| 21 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 22 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 23 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 24 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 25 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 26 | VALLEE AC COLD SMOKE | |
| 27 | Sweet Cheeks Pit BBQ | |
| 28 | Organizer Portal | |
| 29 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 30 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 31 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 32 | Hammondville Hawg Mafia | |
| 33 | Sheats Smoked | |
| 34 | Smokin Chuck's Wagon | |
| 35 | Lookout BBQ Company | |
| 36 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 37 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 38 | Jammin BBQ |
47 entries · top 349.1656 · median 333.0512
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 2 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 3 | SWEET & SAVORY BBQ | |
| 4 | Smokin' Dees | |
| 5 | Ham Squad | |
| 6 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 7 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 8 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 9 | PARTTY ALL KNIGHT | |
| 10 | Dang Good BBQ | |
| 11 | RIBLIFE | |
| 12 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 13 | LEM'S MEAT VARNISH | |
| 14 | RAMMER JAMMER BBQ | |
| 15 | BLOWIN' SMOKE - TONEY, AL | |
| 16 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 17 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 18 | REDBONES BBQ | |
| 19 | Wynn's BBQ | |
| 20 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 21 | Leela Q | |
| 22 | Swine N' Brine BBQ | |
| 23 | Slingin pig meat | |
| 24 | Batwing | |
| 25 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 26 | SecondHandSmoke | |
| 27 | Backyard Grilling and Smoking | |
| 28 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 29 | Charlie Brown BBQ | |
| 30 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 31 | Pork Life | |
| 32 | Circle W Meats | |
| 33 | Outhouse smokers | |
| 34 | Just Cluckin Off | |
| 35 | Fat Boy BBQ | |
| 36 | HOLY SMOKERS - AL | |
| 37 | Holy smokin!!! | |
| 38 | 4 Seasons BBQ | |
| 39 | Simply Smoked | |
| 40 | K. Bees BBQ | |
| 41 | Billy Mac BBQ | |
| 42 | Crazy Legs | |
| 43 | BlackStone BBQ | |
| 44 | Fat Bottom BBQ | |
| 45 | Cuz It Hurts | |
| 46 | Nearly Burnt | |
| 47 | Eagles Nest BBQ |
47 entries · top 176 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEM'S MEAT VARNISH | |
| 2 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 3 | Smokin' Dees | |
| 4 | SWEET & SAVORY BBQ | |
| 5 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 6 | Dang Good BBQ | |
| 7 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 8 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 9 | REDBONES BBQ | |
| 10 | Swine N' Brine BBQ | |
| 11 | Batwing | |
| 12 | BLOWIN' SMOKE - TONEY, AL | |
| 13 | RIBLIFE | |
| 14 | PARTTY ALL KNIGHT | |
| 15 | BlackStone BBQ | |
| 16 | Fat Boy BBQ | |
| 17 | Ham Squad | |
| 18 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 19 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 20 | SecondHandSmoke | |
| 21 | RAMMER JAMMER BBQ | |
| 22 | Leela Q | |
| 23 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 24 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 26 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 27 | HOLY SMOKERS - AL | |
| 28 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 29 | Just Cluckin Off | |
| 30 | Billy Mac BBQ | |
| 31 | K. Bees BBQ | |
| 32 | Wynn's BBQ | |
| 33 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 34 | Backyard Grilling and Smoking | |
| 35 | Outhouse smokers | |
| 36 | Holy smokin!!! | |
| 37 | Slingin pig meat | |
| 38 | Pork Life | |
| 39 | 4 Seasons BBQ | |
| 40 | Circle W Meats | |
| 41 | Crazy Legs | |
| 42 | Simply Smoked | |
| 43 | Charlie Brown BBQ | |
| 44 | Fat Bottom BBQ | |
| 45 | Cuz It Hurts | |
| 46 | Nearly Burnt | |
| 47 | Eagles Nest BBQ |
46 entries · top 177.1428 · median 165.6744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 2 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 3 | Thin Blue Swine | |
| 4 | Ham Squad | |
| 5 | Slingin pig meat | |
| 6 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 7 | Charlie Brown BBQ | |
| 8 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 9 | Wynn's BBQ | |
| 10 | PARTTY ALL KNIGHT | |
| 11 | RAMMER JAMMER BBQ | |
| 12 | SWEET & SAVORY BBQ | |
| 13 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 14 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokin' Dees | |
| 16 | RIBLIFE | |
| 17 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 18 | 2 Swine Crew | |
| 19 | Dang Good BBQ | |
| 20 | BLOWIN' SMOKE - TONEY, AL | |
| 21 | Circle W Meats | |
| 22 | Leela Q | |
| 23 | REDBONES BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 25 | Backyard Grilling and Smoking | |
| 26 | Pork Life | |
| 27 | Swine N' Brine BBQ | |
| 28 | LEM'S MEAT VARNISH | |
| 29 | Simply Smoked | |
| 30 | SecondHandSmoke | |
| 31 | Batwing | |
| 32 | Holy smokin!!! | |
| 33 | Outhouse smokers | |
| 34 | 4 Seasons BBQ | |
| 35 | Cuz It Hurts | |
| 36 | Crazy Legs | |
| 37 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 38 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 39 | Just Cluckin Off | |
| 40 | Fat Boy BBQ | |
| 41 | HOLY SMOKERS - AL | |
| 42 | Fat Bottom BBQ | |
| 43 | K. Bees BBQ | |
| 44 | Billy Mac BBQ | |
| 45 | Nearly Burnt | |
| 46 | BlackStone BBQ |