A familiar champion
4×
titles at this rep’s contests
Pig Destroyer has taken the Grand Championship at 4 of the contests this rep has run.
- 51 champions crowned in all
- 44 different teams
Sam Appleton
A KCBS contest rep working 5 states/provinces, most often around Gadsden, AL. By events worked they sit #49 of the 152 reps in the data. First on the record in 2019, latest contest Apr 11, 2025.
At a glance (their career as a contest rep, in numbers)
Contests run
55
every contest on their record · 1 cancelled
Among all reps
#49
of 152 reps by events worked · #60 by states covered
On the trail
2019–2025
8 seasons in the data · 7 in a row
This season
0
contests dated 2026 · 7 a season career-long
State championships
23
contests carrying a state title
Teams officiated
967
1,461 entries total · 5,651 meat boxes
Avg field
29
691
teams per contest · median 28
Field strength
1,562
avg power rating of their fields · above 48% of rated contests
GCs crowned
51
44 different teams · 22 reserve champions
First-ever titles
15
teams whose first GC anywhere came at one of theirs
Teams that started here
311
first contest in the data at one of theirs
Perfect 180s seen
54 🔥
out of 5,651 meat entries
Avg winning score (Backyard)
351.51
342.24357.70
26 Backyard contests · 347.94 across all contests
Avg winning score (Master)
701.07
690.80710.82
22 Master contests · 694.10 across all contests
Contests they return to
9
longest run 6 straight years at Roast N Boast
Road between contests
7,615 mi
~952 miles a season · 432 mi corner to corner
Busiest month
April
12 of their 56 contests
Busiest 30 days
5
contests between Oct 21, 2022 and Nov 12, 2022
Prize money
$317K
across their events · biggest purse $41,800
Results on file
91%
50 of their contests have scores in the data
Storylines (14 found in this rep's record)
Read out of the contests they have run — reps don’t judge, so nothing here is a comment on anyone’s scores.
A long time on the trail
5.8 yrs
between first and latest contest
They've been repping KCBS contests since 2019-06-07 — 56 contests across 8 seasons in the data.
- 56 contests
- 8 seasons
- since 2019-06-07
Front row for greatness
54
perfect 180s handed in
54 perfect 180s have been scored at contests they've run — the first at Dr.George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITORS SERIES) on .
- first at Dr.George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITORS SERIES)
The longest shot
11-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 89 times in 100
At Roast N Boast, PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway.
- 22 upsets at their contests
- Oct 4, 2019
Title contests
23
state championships run
41% of their contests carried a state title
23 of their 56 contests carried a state championship on the line.
A first Grand Championship
15
teams won their first title here
15 teams took the first Grand Championship of their careers at one of this rep's contests — most recently Blue Smoke Q at Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition.
- Blue Smoke Q · 2025-04-11
- Smoke Busters · 2024-10-18
- Hogs B Hatin' · 2024-06-07
The big room
91
teams at their biggest contest
Their average field is 29 teams
4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN drew 91 teams — more than double the 29-team field they average.
The double act
56
contests run together
98% of this rep's events
Janet Appleton and Sam Appleton have run 56 contests together since 2019.
- 10 co-reps in all
The annual
6×
editions of one contest
They have repped 6 editions of Roast N Boast, 6 of them back to back.
- 2019 → 2024
- 6 straight years
A season on the road
13
contests in 2022
2022 was their busiest year on the trail: 13 contests and 360 team entries through the tables.
- 360 team entries
- 3 state championships
Where teams start
311
teams cooked their first contest here
311 teams turned in their first box at a contest this rep was running — for that many teams, this is where the record starts.
- Smoke-a-Billy's · 2025-04-11
- Jacket-Que · 2025-04-11
- M&H BBQ · 2025-04-11
Road warrior
5
states and provinces worked
Has run contests in 5 different states and provinces — AL most of all (28 events).
- AL ×28
- MS ×15
- TN ×9
- GA ×3
A month of Saturdays
5
contests inside 30 days
Their heaviest run of the career: 5 contests between Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) and 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL.
- Oct 21, 2022
- Nov 12, 2022
Every single season
7
seasons in a row, and counting
They have worked at least one contest in 7 consecutive seasons — an unbroken run through to the current one.
- 56 contests in all
- since 2019-06-07
The story so far (7 numbers that describe this rep)
Busiest season
2022
13 events · 360 team entries
Contests a season
7
across 8 seasons in the data
Seasons in a row
7
still running — 7 and counting
Works mostly in
AL
28 of 56 contests · 5 states/provinces in all
Towns worked
23
most often Gadsden, AL (9)
Corner to corner
432 mi
Gainesville to Vicksburg — the two ends of their map
Meat entries turned in
5,651
boxes on the boards across every contest they have run
Milestones (the firsts and the round numbers of a rep's career)
- First perfect 180 at their tables Dr.George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITORS SERIES)
- 2019
- First contest repped Downtown BBQ Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First Grand Champion crowned Downtown BBQ Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First contest outside MS Poosa-Q
- First state championship Poosa-Q
- First 40-team field Poosa-Q
- PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT won their first-ever Grand Championship Roast N Boast
- Biggest upset seen (11-in-100 shot) Roast N Boast
- 2020
- 10th contest repped Kick It In The Sticks (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 2021
- Back on the trail after 6 months Smoke on the Falls
- 2022
- 25th contest repped Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Biggest field worked (91 teams) 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN
- 2023
- Highest overall score seen (710.8228) Honeybee BBQ Competition
- Deepest field worked (1655 avg rating) Primo BBQ Bash
- 2024
- 50th contest repped The Great Alabama Public Television BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT PORK)
- 2025
- Most recent contest Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition
Season by season (how many contests a season, and how many carried a state title)
The climb (every contest they have run, added up)
Their year (contests by month)
Where they work
Field size by season (average and biggest)
Field strength by season (avg power rating going in)
What it took to win (Backyard winning scores)
How the meats scored (board average vs the winning call)
Who keeps winning (titles at their contests)
Career map (gold = state championship · bigger pin = more visits — tap one)
Every season (click a column to sort)
| Season | Contests | States | Entries | Teams | Avg field | Biggest | State champ. | 180s | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | 36 | — | 36 | 36 | — | — | $4,400 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 31 | 66 | 31 | 31 | 1 | 3 | $11,220 | |
| 2024 | 3 | 204 | 171 | 26 | 38 | 2 | 9 | $36,425 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 244 | 251 | 27 | 39 | 6 | 8 | $73,520 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 360 | 273 | 36 | 91 | 3 | 19 | $47,320 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 217 | 199 | 22 | 38 | 3 | 4 | $29,300 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 110 | 139 | 28 | 36 | 3 | 2 | $21,820 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 259 | 305 | 32 | 48 | 5 | 8 | $92,950 |
Champions crowned (titles at their contests)
| Team | Titles | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Pig Destroyer | 4 | 2023-06-09 |
| WE WILL ROCK QUE | 2 | 2024-04-12 |
| Smoke Me Silly | 2 | 2022-04-08 |
| CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | 2 | 2021-08-27 |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 2 | 2021-05-21 |
| Blue Smoke Q | 1 | 2025-04-11 |
| Smoke Busters | 1 | 2024-10-18 |
| Rollin Smoke BBQ | 1 | 2024-10-11 |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 1 | 2024-07-12 |
| Hogs B Hatin' | 1 | 2024-06-07 |
| 2 Men and a Pig | 1 | 2024-05-04 |
| Big James Kitchen | 1 | 2024-04-19 |
First-ever Grand Championships (a team's first title anywhere, won here)
| Team | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Smoke Q | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Smoke Busters | Roast N Boast | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Hogs B Hatin' | Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITOR SERIES) | Jun 7, 2024 |
| 2 Men and a Pig | The Great Alabama Public Television BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT PORK) | May 4, 2024 |
| Big James Kitchen | Dr. George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITORS SERIES) | Apr 19, 2024 |
| Mad Rocket Barbecue | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) | Oct 13, 2023 |
| Smokey Bee's | Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY) | Apr 14, 2023 |
| COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN | Nov 11, 2022 |
| RAMMER JAMMER BBQ | Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) | Oct 21, 2022 |
| HESS HOGS 4 | Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) | Nov 12, 2021 |
| Tennessee Smoke Show | The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES) | Jun 11, 2021 |
| Getting Basted | Roast-N-Boast | Oct 9, 2020 |
Contests they keep coming back to
| Contest | Editions | Run | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast N Boast | 6 | 6 straight | 2019–2024 |
| Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) | 4 | 4 straight | 2021–2024 |
| Smoke on the Falls | 4 | 3 straight | 2020–2024 |
| Dr. George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITORS SERIES) | 3 | 2 straight | 2023–2024 |
| Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY) | 3 | 3 straight | 2022–2024 |
| Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITOR SERIES) | 2 | 2 straight | 2023–2024 |
| Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 2 straight | 2021–2022 |
| The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES) | 2 | 2 straight | 2021–2022 |
| Kick It In The Sticks (BACKYARD) | 2 | 2 straight | 2020–2021 |
Where they work (contests by state/province)
| State / province | Contests | Share |
|---|---|---|
| AL reps here | 28 | |
| MS reps here | 15 | |
| TN reps here | 9 | |
| GA reps here | 3 | |
| MO reps here | 1 |
Towns on their map
| Town | Contests | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Gadsden, AL | 9 | 2025-04-11 |
| Columbus, MS | 7 | 2024-10-18 |
| Scottsboro, AL | 4 | 2024-10-11 |
| Springfield, TN | 4 | 2024-06-07 |
| Chelsea, AL | 4 | 2024-04-05 |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 3 | 2024-04-19 |
| Meridian, MS | 3 | 2022-09-23 |
| Brookhaven, MS | 3 | 2021-08-20 |
| Butler, AL | 3 | 2021-06-04 |
| Vicksburg, MS | 2 | 2022-10-21 |
| Elkmont, AL | 2 | 2022-06-24 |
| Shelbyville, TN | 1 | 2024-07-12 |
Upsets at their contests (champion rated below the field's top seed)
| Contest | Champion | Top seed | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast N Boast | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ 1613 | Organizer Portal 1978 | 11-in-100 |
| Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Blue Smoke Q 1541 | Organizer Portal 1893 | 12-in-100 |
| BBQ Boogie & Blues | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. 1613 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 1921 | 15-in-100 |
| Smoke on the Falls | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ 1656 | Organizer Portal 1956 | 15-in-100 |
| Smoke on the Falls | WE WILL ROCK QUE 1636 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 1931 | 15-in-100 |
| Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) | Rollin Smoke BBQ 1555 | NORALA BBQ TEAM 1802 | 19-in-100 |
| Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY) | Pig Destroyer 1491 | LEE LA Q 1726 | 21-in-100 |
| Roast N Boast | Smoke Busters 1554 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ 1781 | 21-in-100 |
The boards at their contests (every meat entry they have run)
| Meat | Entries | Board avg | Winning avg | 180s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 1,870 | 166.50 | 177.63 | 23 |
| Pork Ribs | 1,893 | 165.45 | 177.56 | 10 |
| Pork | 1,150 | 166.88 | 177.15 | 13 |
| Brisket | 738 | 167.03 | 178.52 | 8 |
Frequent co-reps
| Rep | Events together | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Janet Appleton | 56 | |
| Randy G Bigler | 7 | |
| Carol Bigler | 7 | |
| Chere Amend | 4 | |
| Terri McKinnon | 3 | |
| Ralph Williams | 3 | |
| Karen Jane Williams | 3 | |
| Dave Amend | 3 | |
| Bob McKinnon | 3 | |
| Wayne Harper | 1 |
Teams that cook under them most
| Team | Contests | Wins | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEE LA Q | 33 | 3 | 2019 |
| RIBLIFE | 29 | 2 | 2019 |
| REDBONES BBQ | 26 | 1 | 2019 |
| HELL ON SQUEALS | 19 | 2 | 2019 |
| Hickory Hangover | 18 | 1 | 2019 |
| The Real Squeal BBQ | 18 | 1 | 2020 |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 16 | 3 | 2019 |
| Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | 16 | — | 2019 |
| 2 Swine Crew | 15 | 1 | 2019 |
| Pig Destroyer | 14 | 4 | 2019 |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 13 | 4 | 2020 |
| Organizer Portal | 13 | 2 | 2019 |
Teams whose first contest was one of theirs
| Team | Debut contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke-a-Billy's | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Jacket-Que | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| M&H BBQ | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Our Meat Your Treat | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Foster BBQ | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Swine & Brine | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Fat Bear | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| Big Fluff BBQ | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition | Apr 11, 2025 |
| QUE'N FOR A CAUSE | Roast N Boast | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Zero2Fire | Roast N Boast | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Finger Lickers | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) | Oct 11, 2024 |
| T&M BBQ | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) | Oct 11, 2024 |