KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off
2021-07-16 – 2021-07-17 · Worthington, MN · 📍 Nobles County Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: DENA MILHOUS, RON MILHOUS · Prize money: $8,200.00
Grand Champion: Richie Z (693.2004) · 33 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 HOGLINE
Entries
33
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
693.2004
Winning margin
5.2576
GC over RC
Field average
671.33
median 673.65
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
1.6800 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
684.5256
10th place overall
Field spread
71.6460
winner to last place
Prize money
$8,200.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 76%
beats 24% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
48%
of the 33 teams with a home region came from outside MN
Came back for more
37%
13 of 35 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.35 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1556
avg power rating going in · stronger than 61% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
Hot Daddy's BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 13 tracked editions.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 7–8: Mr. Dudes BBQ and BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: RUM N' SMOKE BBQ and Richie Z tied on 174.8800 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 7–8: SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS and CITY SLICKERS BBQ tied on 173.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: ACES HIGH BBQ (won 2018), WHO DAT BBQ (won 2019).
🃏 An upset on the books
Richie Z came in rated below the field's top team, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 24-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
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-09-13 | Worthington, MN | 39 | 695.4516 | SONS OF BUTCHERS | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2015-09-18 | Worthington, MN 56187 | 26 | 700.5944 | MUSTANG SALLY BBQ | TOTALLY SAUCED | |
| 2016-09-16 | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 29 | 700.0000 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | SPITFIRE | |
| 2017-09-15 | Downtown Worthington | 27 | 690.2628 | LUCKY'S Q | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG | |
| 2018-09-14 | Downtown Worthington | 25 | 693.6800 | ACES HIGH BBQ | MUSTANG SALLY BBQ | |
| 2019-09-13 | Worthington, MN | Downtown Worthington | 26 | 686.1944 | WHO DAT BBQ | MUSTANG SALLY BBQ |
| 2020-09-18 | Worthington, MN | Downtown Worthington | 35 | 696.6516 | Wags Backwoods BBQ | MACHETE BOYS BBQ |
| 2021-07-16 ← this one | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 33 | 693.2004 | Richie Z | HOGLINE |
| 2022-07-15 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 40 | 695.3940 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Ash Kickin' BBQ |
| 2022-07-15 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 17 | 176.0000 | Smokin' Big | — |
| 2023-07-14 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 39 | 694.8456 | Pittie Q | PORKY BUTTS BBQ |
| 2024-07-12 | Worthington, MN | 700 2nd Avenue | 34 | 695.9084 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ |
| 2024-07-12 | Worthington, MN | 700 2nd Avenue | 13 | 178.8572 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 171.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 174.2972 | 171.4172 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 174.8800 | 172.0000 |
| Brisket | 178.2972 | 172.0116 | 170.8344 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
33 entries · top 693.2004 · median 673.6456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richie Z | |
| 2 | HOGLINE | |
| 3 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 4 | RUM N' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 6 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 8 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 9 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 10 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 11 | Eggspert | |
| 12 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 13 | Mad Horse BBQ | |
| 14 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 16 | 2LiveQ | |
| 17 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 18 | PIGTAMER BBQ | |
| 19 | BnB BBQ | |
| 20 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 21 | SPITFIRE | |
| 22 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 23 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 24 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 25 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 26 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 27 | Parrothead | |
| 28 | GOOD OL BOYS BBQ | |
| 29 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 30 | THE DOCFATHER BBQ | |
| 31 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 32 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 33 | SCHWEBS BBQ |
Chicken
33 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.7372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 2 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 3 | Richie Z | |
| 4 | BnB BBQ | |
| 5 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 6 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 7 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 8 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 9 | 2LiveQ | |
| 10 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 11 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 12 | RUM N' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 13 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 14 | Eggspert | |
| 15 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 16 | HOGLINE | |
| 17 | SCHWEBS BBQ | |
| 18 | Mad Horse BBQ | |
| 19 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 20 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 21 | PIGTAMER BBQ | |
| 22 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 23 | GOOD OL BOYS BBQ | |
| 24 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 25 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 26 | SPITFIRE | |
| 27 | Parrothead | |
| 28 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 29 | THE DOCFATHER BBQ | |
| 30 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 31 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 32 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 33 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE |
Pork Ribs
33 entries · top 177.1428 · median 166.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parrothead | |
| 2 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 4 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 5 | HOGLINE | |
| 6 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 7 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 8 | RUM N' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 11 | Mad Horse BBQ | |
| 12 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 13 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 14 | Eggspert | |
| 15 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 16 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 17 | 2LiveQ | |
| 18 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 19 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 20 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 21 | BnB BBQ | |
| 22 | GOOD OL BOYS BBQ | |
| 23 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 24 | Richie Z | |
| 25 | THE DOCFATHER BBQ | |
| 26 | PIGTAMER BBQ | |
| 27 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 28 | SPITFIRE | |
| 29 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 30 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 31 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 32 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 33 | SCHWEBS BBQ |
Pork
33 entries · top 176.5600 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOGLINE | |
| 2 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 3 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | RUM N' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | Richie Z | |
| 6 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 7 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 8 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 9 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 10 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 11 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 12 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 13 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 14 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 15 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 16 | Eggspert | |
| 17 | SPITFIRE | |
| 18 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 19 | BnB BBQ | |
| 20 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 21 | GOOD OL BOYS BBQ | |
| 22 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 23 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 24 | Mad Horse BBQ | |
| 25 | PIGTAMER BBQ | |
| 26 | 2LiveQ | |
| 27 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 28 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 29 | THE DOCFATHER BBQ | |
| 30 | Parrothead | |
| 31 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 32 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 33 | SCHWEBS BBQ |
Brisket
33 entries · top 178.2972 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGTAMER BBQ | |
| 2 | Richie Z | |
| 3 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 4 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | 2LiveQ | |
| 6 | Eggspert | |
| 7 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 8 | Mad Horse BBQ | |
| 9 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 10 | SPITFIRE | |
| 11 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 12 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 13 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 14 | RUM N' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | HOGLINE | |
| 16 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 17 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 18 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 19 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 21 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 22 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 23 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 24 | THE DOCFATHER BBQ | |
| 25 | BnB BBQ | |
| 26 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 27 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 28 | Parrothead | |
| 29 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 30 | GOOD OL BOYS BBQ | |
| 31 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 32 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 33 | SCHWEBS BBQ |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey Smoke
16 entries · top 174.3200 · median 163.6742
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 2 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 3 | SPITFIRE | |
| 4 | OWENS BBQ | |
| 5 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 6 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 7 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 8 | Mad Horse BBQ | |
| 9 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 10 | THE DOCFATHER BBQ | |
| 11 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 12 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 13 | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 14 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 15 | BnB BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS |