Smokin in Steele (Master & Backyard Contest)
2022-06-03 – 2022-06-04 · Owatonna, MN · 📍 1525 S Cedar Ave · State championship
Reps: DAVE ROGERS, JOHN SCHARFFBILLIG, PEG ROGERS · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Ash Kickin' BBQ (689.6684) · 33 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ
Entries
33
6 judged meats
Top score
689.6684
Winning margin
4.0340
GC over RC
Field average
667.99
median 671.33
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
679.9316
10th place overall
Field spread
56.0912
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 87%
beats 13% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
42%
of the 53 teams with a home region came from outside MN
Came back for more
37%
16 of 43 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.64 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1527
avg power rating going in · stronger than 32% of contests
Storylines
🧹 A double category winner
Furlongs Smoke & Seafood won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: SMOKEHOUSE 72 and MACHETE BOYS BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 4–5: Son of a Boar BBQ and Smokin Gs BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 6–7: LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY and Luckys Q tied on 170.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: LUCKY'S Q (won 2014), HOGLINE (won 2018).
🃏 An upset on the books
Ash Kickin' BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Hogline, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 28-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-31 | Owatonna, MN | 51 | 697.7148 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 2014-05-30 | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 67 | 699.4056 | LUCKY'S Q | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 2016-06-03 | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 53 | 689.6684 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2017-06-02 | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 46 | 691.3140 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 2018-06-01 | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 45 | 697.6688 | HOGLINE | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 2019-05-31 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar Ave | 43 | 697.6916 | Lucky 19 Sauce Co | HOGLINE |
| 2022-06-03 ← this one | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 33 | 689.6684 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| 2023-06-02 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 29 | 692.5600 | Wags Backwoods BBQ | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
| 2024-05-31 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 32 | 699.9656 | T-Rex bbq | MACHETE BOYS BBQ |
| 2025-05-30 | Owatonna, MN | 18th St SE & Elm Ave | 28 | 697.0856 | Dry 2 Da Bone | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.1428 | 174.2856 | 171.4172 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 176.0116 | 171.9656 | 170.2972 |
| Master Series — Pork | 176.0000 | 174.2628 | 172.5600 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 176.5600 | 172.5600 | 170.8112 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 169.1200 | 162.8572 | 158.2284 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 171.4400 | 165.1084 | 157.1084 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
33 entries · top 689.6684 · median 671.3256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 2 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 3 | HOGLINE | |
| 4 | BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ | |
| 5 | Luckys Q | |
| 6 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 8 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 9 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 10 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 11 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 12 | Dry 2 da bone | |
| 13 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 14 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 15 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 16 | Ambition Que | |
| 17 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 18 | PO PO Pork | |
| 19 | Matty Macks | |
| 20 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 21 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 22 | Que'd Up | |
| 23 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 24 | TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BBQ | |
| 25 | On Q BBQ | |
| 26 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 27 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 28 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 29 | SWAMPVIEW BBQ | |
| 30 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 31 | The Q Crew | |
| 32 | Nobody | |
| 33 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE |
Chicken
33 entries · top 177.1428 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dry 2 da bone | |
| 2 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 3 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 4 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 6 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 7 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 8 | Luckys Q | |
| 9 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 11 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 12 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 13 | Que'd Up | |
| 14 | Ambition Que | |
| 15 | HOGLINE | |
| 16 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 17 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 18 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 19 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 20 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 21 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 22 | BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ | |
| 23 | PO PO Pork | |
| 24 | Matty Macks | |
| 25 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 26 | SWAMPVIEW BBQ | |
| 27 | TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BBQ | |
| 28 | Nobody | |
| 29 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 30 | On Q BBQ | |
| 31 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 32 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 33 | The Q Crew |
Pork Ribs
33 entries · top 176.0116 · median 167.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 2 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 3 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 4 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 6 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 7 | Luckys Q | |
| 8 | HOGLINE | |
| 9 | BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ | |
| 10 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 11 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 13 | TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BBQ | |
| 14 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 15 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 16 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 17 | The Q Crew | |
| 18 | On Q BBQ | |
| 19 | Matty Macks | |
| 20 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 21 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 22 | Dry 2 da bone | |
| 23 | Que'd Up | |
| 24 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 25 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 26 | Ambition Que | |
| 27 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 28 | PO PO Pork | |
| 29 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 30 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 31 | SWAMPVIEW BBQ | |
| 32 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 33 | Nobody |
Pork
33 entries · top 176.0000 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luckys Q | |
| 2 | HOGLINE | |
| 3 | BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ | |
| 4 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 5 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 6 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 7 | Dry 2 da bone | |
| 8 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 9 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 10 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 11 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 13 | PO PO Pork | |
| 14 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 15 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 16 | On Q BBQ | |
| 17 | Matty Macks | |
| 18 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 19 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 20 | Ambition Que | |
| 21 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 23 | Que'd Up | |
| 24 | Nobody | |
| 25 | SWAMPVIEW BBQ | |
| 26 | TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BBQ | |
| 27 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 28 | The Q Crew | |
| 29 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 30 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 31 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 32 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 33 | FLYING ACES BBQ |
Brisket
33 entries · top 176.5600 · median 165.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 4 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 5 | BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ | |
| 6 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 7 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 8 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 9 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 10 | HOGLINE | |
| 11 | PO PO Pork | |
| 12 | Ambition Que | |
| 13 | Matty Macks | |
| 14 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 15 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 16 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 17 | Luckys Q | |
| 18 | Que'd Up | |
| 19 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 20 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 21 | Dry 2 da bone | |
| 22 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 23 | The Q Crew | |
| 24 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 25 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 26 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 27 | SWAMPVIEW BBQ | |
| 28 | On Q BBQ | |
| 29 | TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BBQ | |
| 30 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 31 | Nobody | |
| 32 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 33 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 |
Backyard Series
Overall
20 entries · top 340.5600 · median 313.9026
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 2 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 4 | Pittie Q BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 6 | Smokin' N Cool Downz | |
| 7 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 8 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 9 | Dawgs BBQ | |
| 10 | Lucky Shoes BBQ | |
| 11 | G's Q | |
| 12 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 13 | Carnivorous Jim BBQ | |
| 14 | Northern Lights Smoke | |
| 15 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 16 | Stoken n poken | |
| 17 | Double K Kitchens | |
| 18 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 19 | The Ashkickers | |
| 20 | Redline |
Chicken
20 entries · top 169.1200 · median 157.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 2 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 4 | Pittie Q BBQ | |
| 5 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 6 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 7 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 8 | Lucky Shoes BBQ | |
| 9 | Smokin' N Cool Downz | |
| 10 | G's Q | |
| 11 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 12 | Stoken n poken | |
| 13 | Carnivorous Jim BBQ | |
| 14 | Dawgs BBQ | |
| 15 | Double K Kitchens | |
| 16 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 17 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 18 | Northern Lights Smoke | |
| 19 | The Ashkickers | |
| 20 | Redline |
Pork Ribs
20 entries · top 171.4400 · median 156.2456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 2 | Northern Lights Smoke | |
| 3 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 4 | Dawgs BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokin' N Cool Downz | |
| 6 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 7 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 8 | Pittie Q BBQ | |
| 9 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 11 | G's Q | |
| 12 | Lucky Shoes BBQ | |
| 13 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 14 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 15 | Carnivorous Jim BBQ | |
| 16 | Double K Kitchens | |
| 17 | Stoken n poken | |
| 18 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 19 | The Ashkickers | |
| 20 | Redline |