3 of 4
meats called to the stage
Richie Z won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 24th
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 2nd
KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off 2021
Jul 16–17, 2021 · Worthington, MN · 📍 Nobles County Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: Dena Milhous, Ron Milhous · Prize money: $8,200
Richie Z won Grand Champion at the KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off on July 16, 2021 in Worthington, MN at Nobles County Fairgrounds, scoring 693.2004 in a field of 33 teams. HOGLINE took Reserve Grand Champion with 687.9428. Category winners: Chicken — SHIGGIN & GRINNIN (179.4400); Pork Ribs — Parrothead (177.1428); Pork — HOGLINE (176.5600); Brisket — PIGTAMER BBQ (178.2972). This is the 8th of 13 editions of this contest on record; the 2020 edition was won by Wags Backwoods BBQ; the next was held in 2022.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
621.55
median 673.65
693.20 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.44
- Pork Ribs 177.14
- Pork 176.56
- Brisket 178.30
149.66
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2024 — this edition picked out.
Entries
33
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
693.2004
Winning margin
5.2576
GC over RC
Field average
671.33
621.55693.20
median 673.65 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
1.6800 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
684.5256
621.55693.20
10th place overall
Field spread
71.6460
winner to last place
Prize money
$8,200
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 60%
beats 40% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
37%
13 of 35 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.38 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,618
avg power rating going in · stronger than 87% of contests
Storylines (7 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Won without a category win
A first Grand Championship
1
title in the data
This was Richie Z's first Grand Championship in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 13 tracked editions
Hot Daddy's BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 13 tracked editions.
- 2024
- 2024
A rookie on the podium
1st
at their first tracked contest
Richie Z finished 1st overall in the first contest the data has them cooking at all.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 11 calls decided inside half a point
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.
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · tie
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: ACES HIGH BBQ (won 2018), WHO DAT BBQ (won 2019).
- ACES HIGH BBQ · 2018
- WHO DAT BBQ · 2019
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2013 | Worthington, MN | Worthington, MN | 39 | 695.4516 | SONS OF BUTCHERS | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Worthington, MN | Worthington, MN 56187 | 26 | 700.5944 | MUSTANG SALLY BBQ | TOTALLY SAUCED |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 29 | 700 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Worthington, MN | Downtown Worthington | 27 | 690.2628 | LUCKY'S Q | YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Worthington, MN | Downtown Worthington | 25 | 693.6800 | ACES HIGH BBQ | MUSTANG SALLY BBQ |
| Sep 13, 2019 | Worthington, MN | Downtown Worthington | 26 | 686.1944 | WHO DAT BBQ | MUSTANG SALLY BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Worthington, MN | Downtown Worthington | 35 | 696.6516 | Wags Backwoods BBQ | MACHETE BOYS BBQ |
| Jul 16, 2021 ← this one | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 33 | 693.2004 | Richie Z | HOGLINE |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 40 | 695.3940 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Ash Kickin' BBQ |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 17 | 176 | Smokin' Big | — |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Worthington, MN | Nobles County Fairgrounds | 39 | 694.8456 | Pittie Q | PORKY BUTTS BBQ |
| Jul 12, 2024 | Worthington, MN | 700 2nd Avenue | 34 | 695.9084 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | Dirty Little Pigs BBQ |
| Jul 12, 2024 | 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 |
| 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 |