Sep 4–5, 2026 · Meridian, ID · 📍 Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park · State championship
Reps: Ian Schmidt, Julie Poe, Steven Flewallen · Prize money: $16,000
CYNICAL BBQ won Grand Champion at the Meat & Tater BBQ Fest on September 4, 2026 in Meridian, ID at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park, scoring 706.2516 in a field of 52 teams. IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 706.2284. Category winners: Chicken — PORT CITY BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — CROOKED PIGS (180.0000); Pork — Meat Candy Q (180.0000); Brisket — BAR-B-CUDA BBQ (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2025 edition was won by Smokin' Volts BBQ; the next was held in 2026.
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, 2025 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 97% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0232 points — closer than 97% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 66 times in 100
Cynical BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, GETTIN' BASTED, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 34-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
CYNICAL BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
8 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.0000 points — 3 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
Stronger than 91% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1632 power rating going in — stronger than 91% of every contest tracked.
Chicken places 1–2: PORT CITY BBQ and SMOKE324 tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: SMOKE324 and CYNICAL BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Porterhouse BBQ and Small Axe BBQ tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
CROOKED PIGS turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Smokin' Volts BBQ (won 2025).
28 of 39 teams from 2025-08-29 came back
28 of the 39 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2025 | Meridian, ID | Julius M. Kilner Memorial Park | 39 | 707.9772 | Smokin' Volts BBQ | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Sep 4, 2026 ← this one | Meridian, ID | Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park | 52 | 706.2516 | CYNICAL BBQ | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Sep 4, 2026 | Meridian, ID | Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park | 35 | 178.2972 | Porterhouse BBQ | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 178.8572 | 177.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 177.7144 | 176.5716 |
| Pork | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
| Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4056 |
52 entries · top 706.2516 · median 687.9600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 2 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 3 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 4 | Chicken Fried BBQ | |
| 5 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 6 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 7 | Wild West BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKE324 | |
| 9 | LA PASADITA | |
| 10 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 11 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 12 | CROOKED PIGS | |
| 13 | Gettin' Basted | |
| 14 | Si Quema BBQ | |
| 15 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 16 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 17 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 19 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 20 | Porterhouse BBQ | |
| 21 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 22 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 23 | Red Beards BBQ | |
| 24 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 25 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 26 | Freedom Works BBQ | |
| 27 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 28 | BUNCH OF SWINES | |
| 29 | RJs Smokehouse | |
| 30 | PORT CITY BBQ | |
| 31 | Blind Hog BBQ | |
| 32 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 33 | OM BBQ | |
| 34 | SLOW PORKIN | |
| 35 | Iron Brothers BBQ | |
| 36 | J&C BBQ | |
| 37 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 38 | That's All Smoke | |
| 39 | Smokin' Pigs Bbq | |
| 40 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 41 | Wading in the Smoke | |
| 42 | Willingham's | |
| 43 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 44 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 45 | Big Boyz BBQ | |
| 46 | IRON FLAMES BBQ | |
| 47 | Northern Outcast BBQ | |
| 48 | IdaPoe BBQ | |
| 49 | Tim Tom's BBQ | |
| 50 | Oak & Iron | |
| 51 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 52 | Smells Like Brisket |
52 entries · top 180 · median 174.5542 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORT CITY BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKE324 | |
| 3 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 7 | Porterhouse BBQ | |
| 8 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 9 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 10 | Chicken Fried BBQ | |
| 11 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 12 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 13 | Tim Tom's BBQ | |
| 14 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 15 | Freedom Works BBQ | |
| 16 | Gettin' Basted | |
| 17 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 18 | OM BBQ | |
| 19 | RJs Smokehouse | |
| 20 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 21 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 22 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 23 | Iron Brothers BBQ | |
| 24 | Willingham's | |
| 25 | CROOKED PIGS | |
| 26 | LA PASADITA | |
| 27 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 28 | Wild West BBQ | |
| 29 | Si Quema BBQ | |
| 30 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 31 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 32 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 33 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 34 | SLOW PORKIN | |
| 35 | Wading in the Smoke | |
| 36 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 37 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 38 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 39 | BUNCH OF SWINES | |
| 40 | Blind Hog BBQ | |
| 41 | Smokin' Pigs Bbq | |
| 42 | J&C BBQ | |
| 43 | That's All Smoke | |
| 44 | Red Beards BBQ | |
| 45 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 46 | Northern Outcast BBQ | |
| 47 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 48 | Oak & Iron | |
| 49 | IdaPoe BBQ | |
| 50 | IRON FLAMES BBQ | |
| 51 | Big Boyz BBQ | |
| 52 | Smells Like Brisket |
51 entries · top 180 · median 171.4056 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CROOKED PIGS | |
| 2 | Red Beards BBQ | |
| 3 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 4 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 5 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 6 | Wild West BBQ | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 10 | BUNCH OF SWINES | |
| 11 | Chicken Fried BBQ | |
| 12 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 13 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 14 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 16 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 17 | IRON FLAMES BBQ | |
| 18 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 19 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 20 | LA PASADITA | |
| 21 | Blind Hog BBQ | |
| 22 | Northern Outcast BBQ | |
| 23 | Smokin' Pigs Bbq | |
| 24 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 25 | Freedom Works BBQ | |
| 26 | Si Quema BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE324 | |
| 28 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 29 | Iron Brothers BBQ | |
| 30 | SLOW PORKIN | |
| 31 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 32 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 33 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 34 | Gettin' Basted | |
| 35 | J&C BBQ | |
| 36 | RJs Smokehouse | |
| 37 | PORT CITY BBQ | |
| 38 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 39 | Porterhouse BBQ | |
| 40 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 41 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 42 | IdaPoe BBQ | |
| 43 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 44 | Oak & Iron | |
| 45 | That's All Smoke | |
| 46 | Big Boyz BBQ | |
| 47 | Wading in the Smoke | |
| 48 | Willingham's | |
| 49 | OM BBQ | |
| 50 | Tim Tom's BBQ | |
| 51 | Smells Like Brisket |
51 entries · top 180 · median 171.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 2 | That's All Smoke | |
| 3 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 4 | Chicken Fried BBQ | |
| 5 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 6 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 7 | LA PASADITA | |
| 8 | Porterhouse BBQ | |
| 9 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 10 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 12 | Big Boyz BBQ | |
| 13 | Red Beards BBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin' Pigs Bbq | |
| 15 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 16 | Si Quema BBQ | |
| 17 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 18 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 19 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 20 | Blind Hog BBQ | |
| 21 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 22 | Wild West BBQ | |
| 23 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKE324 | |
| 25 | J&C BBQ | |
| 26 | Gettin' Basted | |
| 27 | Willingham's | |
| 28 | PORT CITY BBQ | |
| 29 | RJs Smokehouse | |
| 30 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 31 | Iron Brothers BBQ | |
| 32 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 33 | OM BBQ | |
| 34 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 35 | Freedom Works BBQ | |
| 36 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 37 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 38 | CROOKED PIGS | |
| 39 | Wading in the Smoke | |
| 40 | SLOW PORKIN | |
| 41 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 42 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 43 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 44 | Oak & Iron | |
| 45 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 46 | BUNCH OF SWINES | |
| 47 | IRON FLAMES BBQ | |
| 48 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 49 | IdaPoe BBQ | |
| 50 | Northern Outcast BBQ | |
| 51 | Tim Tom's BBQ |
52 entries · top 180 · median 171.9714 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 2 | Small Axe BBQ | |
| 3 | Gettin' Basted | |
| 4 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 5 | Si Quema BBQ | |
| 6 | Wild West BBQ | |
| 7 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 8 | SMOKE324 | |
| 9 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 11 | BUNCH OF SWINES | |
| 12 | OM BBQ | |
| 13 | CROOKED PIGS | |
| 14 | Triple Nines BBQ | |
| 15 | Red Beards BBQ | |
| 16 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 17 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 18 | LA PASADITA | |
| 19 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 20 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 21 | Chicken Fried BBQ | |
| 22 | Big Juicy BBQ | |
| 23 | Wading in the Smoke | |
| 24 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 25 | SLOW PORKIN | |
| 26 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 27 | RJs Smokehouse | |
| 28 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 30 | J&C BBQ | |
| 31 | Porterhouse BBQ | |
| 32 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 33 | Freedom Works BBQ | |
| 34 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 35 | WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | |
| 36 | PORT CITY BBQ | |
| 37 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 38 | Big Boyz BBQ | |
| 39 | Blind Hog BBQ | |
| 40 | Bearded Boar BBQ | |
| 41 | Northern Outcast BBQ | |
| 42 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 43 | IdaPoe BBQ | |
| 44 | That's All Smoke | |
| 45 | Willingham's | |
| 46 | IRON FLAMES BBQ | |
| 47 | Iron Brothers BBQ | |
| 48 | Tim Tom's BBQ | |
| 49 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 50 | Smokin' Pigs Bbq | |
| 51 | Oak & Iron | |
| 52 | Smells Like Brisket |
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.
9 entries · top 173.7028 · median 168.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iron Brothers BBQ | |
| 2 | Red Beards BBQ | |
| 3 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 4 | Freedom Works BBQ | |
| 5 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 6 | J&C BBQ | |
| 7 | Big Boyz BBQ | |
| 8 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 9 | Bearded Boar BBQ |