A familiar champion
6×
titles at this rep’s contests
Meat Candy Q has taken the Grand Championship at 6 of the contests this rep has run.
- 38 champions crowned in all
- 28 different teams
Michael Santiago
A KCBS contest rep working 6 states/provinces, most often around Yuma, AZ. By events worked they sit #60 of the 152 reps in the data. First on the record in 2019, latest contest Oct 17, 2026.
At a glance (their career as a contest rep, in numbers)
Contests run
39
2 more on the calendar · 2 cancelled
Among all reps
#60
of 152 reps by events worked · #41 by states covered
On the trail
2019–2026
10 seasons in the data · 8 in a row
This season
7
contests dated 2026 · 4.2 a season career-long
State championships
36
contests carrying a state title
Teams officiated
413
1,048 entries total · 4,150 meat boxes
Avg field
28
490
teams per contest · median 26
Field strength
1,594
avg power rating of their fields · above 74% of rated contests
GCs crowned
38
28 different teams · 37 reserve champions
First-ever titles
11
teams whose first GC anywhere came at one of theirs
Teams that started here
127
first contest in the data at one of theirs
Perfect 180s seen
70 🔥
out of 4,150 meat entries
Avg winning score
701.82
689.67713.71
37 Master contests · 694.13 across all contests
Contests they return to
9
longest run 5 straight years at BBQ, Boots & Brew
Road between contests
15,236 mi
~1,524 miles a season · 1,059 mi corner to corner
Busiest month
May
9 of their 42 contests
Busiest 30 days
3
contests between May 6, 2022 and May 28, 2022
Prize money
$395K
across their events · biggest purse $40,000
Results on file
97%
38 of their contests have scores in the data
Storylines (15 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
7.4 yrs
between first and latest contest
They've been repping KCBS contests since 2019-05-24 — 42 contests across 10 seasons in the data.
- 42 contests
- 10 seasons
- since 2019-05-24
Front row for greatness
70
perfect 180s handed in
70 perfect 180s have been scored at contests they've run — the first at Big Bear Grill & Chill on 2019-05-24.
- first at Big Bear Grill & Chill
- May 24, 2019
The longest shot
8-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 92 times in 100
At Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 1), SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway.
- 22 upsets at their contests
- May 27, 2022
Title contests
36
state championships run
86% of their contests carried a state title
36 of their 42 contests carried a state championship on the line.
A first Grand Championship
11
teams won their first title here
11 teams took the first Grand Championship of their careers at one of this rep's contests — most recently Big Johns BBQ Company at BBQ Jackpot.
- Big Johns BBQ Company · 2025-11-21
- STEVO'S BBQ TEAM · 2025-02-21
- Red Dog BBQ · 2024-08-23
The big room
90
teams at their biggest contest
Their average field is 28 teams
BBQ Jackpot drew 90 teams — more than double the 28-team field they average.
The double act
44
contests run together
100% of this rep's events
Rhonda Santiago and Michael Santiago have run 44 contests together since 2019.
- 5 co-reps in all
The annual
5×
editions of one contest
They have repped 5 editions of BBQ, Boots & Brew, 5 of them back to back.
- 2021 → 2025
- 5 straight years
A season on the road
10
contests in 2022
2022 was their busiest year on the trail: 10 contests and 234 team entries through the tables.
- 234 team entries
- 8 state championships
Where teams start
127
teams cooked their first contest here
127 teams turned in their first box at a contest this rep was running — for that many teams, this is where the record starts.
- Burnin and Lootin BBQ · 2026-10-17
- DM's BBQ · 2026-10-16
- Dos Lunas · 2026-10-16
Road warrior
6
states and provinces worked
Has run contests in 6 different states and provinces — CA most of all (16 events).
- CA ×16
- AZ ×9
- NV ×5
- UT ×5
Still on the calendar
2
contests still to come
2 contests on their calendar that have not been cooked yet.
- 2027-02-19 · Q's & Brews Bighorn BBQ Competition
- 2026-11-20 · BBQ Jackpot
Every single season
8
seasons in a row, and counting
They have worked at least one contest in 8 consecutive seasons — an unbroken run through to the current one.
- 42 contests in all
- since 2019-05-24
Corner to corner
1,059 mi
between the two ends of their map
The two furthest-apart contests on their record sit 1,059 miles apart — Perris and Miles City.
- Perris, CA
- Miles City, MT
- 15,236 mi contest to contest
The story so far (8 numbers that describe this rep)
Busiest season
2022
10 events · 234 team entries
Contests a season
4.2
across 10 seasons in the data
Seasons in a row
8
still running — 8 and counting
Works mostly in
CA
16 of 42 contests · 6 states/provinces in all
Towns worked
18
most often Yuma, AZ (6)
Corner to corner
1,059 mi
Perris to Miles City — the two ends of their map
Meat entries turned in
4,150
boxes on the boards across every contest they have run
Still to come
2
events on the calendar ahead
Milestones (the firsts and the round numbers of a rep's career)
- 2019
- First contest repped Big Bear Grill & Chill
- First state championship Big Bear Grill & Chill
- First Grand Champion crowned Big Bear Grill & Chill
- First perfect 180 at their tables Big Bear Grill & Chill
- First contest outside CA Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off
- COW TIPPIN BBQ won their first-ever Grand Championship Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off
- 2020
- First 40-team field Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
- 2021
- Back on the trail after 9 months BBQ, Boots & Brew
- 2022
- 10th contest repped BBQ & Brew 'Best in the Southwest' Festival
- Biggest upset seen (8-in-100 shot) Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 1)
- 2023
- Highest overall score seen (713.7144) BBQ, Boots & Brew
- 2024
- 25th contest repped Best in the Southwest
- Deepest field worked (1661 avg rating) Best in the Southwest
- 2025
- Biggest field worked (90 teams) BBQ Jackpot
- 2026
- Most recent contest All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2)
- Next on the calendar BBQ Jackpot
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 (Master 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2027 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
| 2026 | 3 | 172 | 87 | 29 | 35 | 5 | 24 | $125,150 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 171 | 112 | 43 | 90 | 4 | 12 | $41,500 | |
| 2024 | 3 | 114 | 106 | 23 | 39 | 4 | 14 | $40,150 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 125 | 94 | 25 | 33 | 5 | 7 | $48,650 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 234 | 146 | 26 | 43 | 8 | 10 | $69,150 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 103 | 91 | 26 | 27 | 4 | 2 | $25,000 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 86 | 73 | 29 | 42 | 3 | — | $24,500 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 43 | 43 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 1 | $21,000 |
Champions crowned (titles at their contests)
| Team | Titles | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Meat Candy Q | 6 | 2026-04-17 |
| B' Mackin BBQ | 4 | 2026-02-27 |
| Bushmaster BBQ | 2 | 2023-03-10 |
| BIG POPPA SMOKERS #7 | 2 | 2021-05-21 |
| JANKY LEG BBQ #3 | 1 | 2026-10-17 |
| GETTIN' BASTED #11 | 1 | 2026-10-16 |
| MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | 1 | 2026-05-15 |
| Brinkerhoff BBQ | 1 | 2026-03-27 |
| Big Johns BBQ Company | 1 | 2025-11-21 |
| Porterhouse BBQ | 1 | 2025-04-11 |
| STEVO'S BBQ TEAM | 1 | 2025-02-21 |
| Red Dog BBQ | 1 | 2024-08-23 |
First-ever Grand Championships (a team's first title anywhere, won here)
| Team | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Big Johns BBQ Company | BBQ Jackpot | Nov 21, 2025 |
| STEVO'S BBQ TEAM | Best in the Southwest | Feb 21, 2025 |
| Red Dog BBQ | All American Rib Cookoff (COMPETITOR SERIES) | Aug 23, 2024 |
| WYO SMOKE SHOW | Miles City Cowtown Cookoff | Jun 14, 2024 |
| Old Town Franklin BBQ | Field, Fire Fork! | Sep 29, 2023 |
| Cluster Cluck Barbecue | Miles City Cowtown Cookoff | Jun 16, 2023 |
| 5th Gear | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championship | May 26, 2023 |
| OM BBQ COMPANY | Eastern Sierra BBQ, Chili & Salsa Festival | May 6, 2022 |
| OWENS BBQ | Miles City Cowtown Cook Off | Jun 25, 2021 |
| GETTIN' BASTED BARBEQUE | Red Rock BBQ | Jan 3, 2020 |
| COW TIPPIN BBQ | Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off | Aug 16, 2019 |
Contests they keep coming back to
| Contest | Editions | Run | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ, Boots & Brew | 5 | 5 straight | 2021–2025 |
| Miles City Cowtown Cookoff | 3 | 3 straight | 2022–2024 |
| Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 2) | 3 | 2 straight | 2021–2022 |
| Q's & Brews Bighorn BBQ Competition | 2 | 2 straight | 2026–2027 |
| BBQ Jackpot | 2 | 2 straight | 2025–2026 |
| All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) | 2 | — | 2026–2026 |
| Best in the Southwest | 2 | 2 straight | 2024–2025 |
| Western Legends BBQ Contest | 2 | 2 straight | 2021–2022 |
| 2nd Annual VFW Post 3396 Armed Forces BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT RIBS) | 2 | — | 2022–2022 |
Where they work (contests by state/province)
| State / province | Contests | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA reps here | 16 | |
| AZ reps here | 9 | |
| NV reps here | 5 | |
| UT reps here | 5 | |
| MT reps here | 4 | |
| NM reps here | 3 |
Towns on their map
| Town | Contests | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | 6 | 2026-02-27 |
| Perris, CA | 5 | 2025-04-11 |
| Big Bear Lake, CA | 5 | 2023-05-26 |
| Miles City, MT | 4 | 2024-06-14 |
| Kanab, UT | 4 | 2022-09-09 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 3 | 2026-11-20 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 2 | 2027-02-19 |
| Sunland Park, NM | 2 | 2026-10-17 |
| Sparks, NV | 2 | 2022-07-02 |
| Deming, NM | 1 | 2026-05-15 |
| Lake Havasu, AZ | 1 | 2025-03-28 |
| Auburn, CA | 1 | 2024-08-23 |
Upsets at their contests (champion rated below the field's top seed)
| Contest | Champion | Top seed | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 1) | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ 1544 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS 1975 | 8-in-100 |
| Big Bear Grill & Chill | B' Mackin BBQ 1614 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2025 | 9-in-100 |
| BBQ Jackpot | Big Johns BBQ Company 1611 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2001 | 10-in-100 |
| Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships | MUDVILLE BBQ 1630 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS 1996 | 11-in-100 |
| Best in the Southwest | STEVO'S BBQ TEAM 1679 | GETTIN' BASTED 1981 | 15-in-100 |
| Western Legends BBQ Contest | Your Behind BBQ 1596 | Burnin and Lootin 1896 | 15-in-100 |
| Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival | UTAH BBQ COMPANY 1693 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS 1992 | 15-in-100 |
| Miles City Cowtown Cookoff | Cluster Cluck Barbecue 1498 | Texas Smoke Whisperer 1797 | 15-in-100 |
The boards at their contests (every meat entry they have run)
| Meat | Entries | Board avg | Winning avg | 180s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 1,035 | 168.64 | 178.00 | 13 |
| Pork Ribs | 1,058 | 167.07 | 177.53 | 14 |
| Pork | 1,030 | 167.75 | 178.87 | 25 |
| Brisket | 1,027 | 165.90 | 178.73 | 18 |
Frequent co-reps
| Rep | Events together | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rhonda Santiago | 44 | |
| Scott Spray | 2 | |
| Kelly McIntosh | 2 | |
| Kathleen McIntosh | 2 | |
| Debbie Spray | 2 |
Teams that cook under them most
| Team | Contests | Wins | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat Candy Q | 23 | 6 | 2019 |
| SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | 21 | 1 | 2021 |
| B' Mackin BBQ | 20 | 4 | 2019 |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 16 | 1 | 2020 |
| SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | 16 | — | 2020 |
| LADY OF Q | 16 | — | 2019 |
| STEVO'S BBQ TEAM | 15 | 1 | 2019 |
| GIRLS CAN GRILL | 14 | — | 2019 |
| 7 SINS BBQ | 13 | — | 2019 |
| Porterhouse BBQ | 12 | 1 | 2022 |
| POPPA PIG AND PORKCHOP | 12 | — | 2020 |
| BIG RED BBQ | 12 | — | 2019 |
Teams whose first contest was one of theirs
| Team | Debut contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Burnin and Lootin BBQ | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) | Oct 17, 2026 |
| DM's BBQ | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Dos Lunas | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| AJ's Smokehouse BBQ | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| 3 Mile BBQ | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Wild Willy's BBQ | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Pork Bombin BBQ BBQ | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Si Quema | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Bourbon & Blues | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Tres Hermanos | Luna County Heritage Days Festival | May 15, 2026 |
| Rusty Smrkovsky | Luna County Heritage Days Festival | May 15, 2026 |
| RENOBS | Luna County Heritage Days Festival | May 15, 2026 |
Every event (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Where | Teams | Top score | Prize $ | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2027 | Q's & Brews Bighorn BBQ Competition state champ. upcoming | Lake Havasu City, AZ | — | — | — | — |
| Nov 20, 2026 | BBQ Jackpot state champ. upcoming | Las Vegas, NV | — | — | $16,400 | — |
| Oct 17, 2026 | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) | Sunland Park, NM | 34 | 705.0972 | $40,000 | Janky Leg BBQ |
| Oct 16, 2026 | All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) | Sunland Park, NM | 35 | 708.5716 | $35,000 | Gettin' Basted |
| Oct 16, 2026 | All American Military/Veterans/First Responders BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES) cancelled | Sunland Park, NM | — | — | — | — |
| May 15, 2026 | Luna County Heritage Days Festival state champ. | Deming, NM | 16 | 709.6800 | $8,500 | Mar-B-Que's BBQ |
| Apr 17, 2026 | The Downtown Grand Master BBQ Showdown state champ. | Las Vegas, NV | 29 | 704.0112 | $8,150 | Meat Candy Q |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Q's & Brews Bighorn BBQ Competition state champ. | Lake Havasu City, AZ | 33 | 707.9888 | $8,000 | Brinkerhoff BBQ |
| Feb 27, 2026 | BBQ & Brew Festival state champ. | Yuma, AZ | 25 | 703.9428 | $9,100 | B' Mackin BBQ |
| Nov 21, 2025 | BBQ Jackpot state champ. | Las Vegas, NV | 90 | 706.2856 | $16,400 | Big Johns BBQ Company |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Cowtown Cookoff state champ. cancelled | Miles City, MT | — | — | — | — |
| Apr 11, 2025 | BBQ, Boots & Brew state champ. | Perris, CA | 26 | 695.9544 | $8,000 | Porterhouse BBQ |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Q's & Brews state champ. | Lake Havasu, AZ | 26 | 701.1316 | $8,000 | Meat Candy Q |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Best in the Southwest state champ. | Yuma, AZ | 29 | 698.2172 | $9,100 | Stevo's BBQ Team |
| Aug 23, 2024 | All American Rib Cookoff (COMPETITOR SERIES) | Auburn, CA | 13 | 174.2744 | $2,000 | Red Dog BBQ |
| Jun 14, 2024 | Miles City Cowtown Cookoff state champ. | Miles City, MT | 16 | 705.1088 | $9,450 | Wyo Smoke Show |
| May 24, 2024 | Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off state champ. | Felton, CA | 21 | 713.7028 | $7,500 | Cherry Anchor BBQ |
| Apr 12, 2024 | BBQ Boots & Brew state champ. | Perris, CA | 39 | 705.6800 | $8,000 | Rhythm 'N Que |
| Feb 23, 2024 | Best in the Southwest state champ. | Yuma, AZ | 25 | 702.2400 | $13,200 | Meat Candy Q |
| Sep 29, 2023 | Field, Fire Fork! state champ. | Los Banos, CA | 19 | 697.1088 | $8,000 | Old Town Franklin BBQ |
| Jun 16, 2023 | Miles City Cowtown Cookoff state champ. | Miles City, MT | 22 | 703.3944 | $9,450 | Cluster Cluck Barbecue |
| May 26, 2023 | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championship state champ. | Big Bear Lake, CA | 19 | 698.8116 | $10,000 | 5th Gear |
| Apr 28, 2023 | BBQ, Boots & Brew state champ. | Perris, CA | 33 | 713.7144 | $8,000 | Meat Candy Q |
| Mar 10, 2023 | BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest state champ. | Yuma, AZ | 32 | 702.8116 | $13,200 | Bushmaster BBQ |
| Sep 23, 2022 | The Great Kearney BBQ Smoke-Out state champ. | Fresno, CA | 43 | 698.8800 | $8,000 | B'Mackin BBQ |
| Sep 9, 2022 | Western Legends BBQ Contest state champ. | Kanab, UT | 31 | 695.9544 | $10,000 | Bushmaster BBQ |
| Jul 2, 2022 | 2nd Annual VFW Post 3396 Armed Forces BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT RIBS) | Sparks, NV | — | — | $500 | — |
| Jul 1, 2022 | 2nd Annual VFW Post 3396 Armed Forces BBQ Challenge (MASTERS) | Sparks, NV | 17 | 695.9884 | $6,000 | Meat Candy Q |
| Jun 24, 2022 | Miles City Cowtown Cookoff state champ. | Miles City, MT | 26 | 699.3828 | $9,450 | Last Call Heroes BBQ |
| May 28, 2022 | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 2) state champ. | Big Bear Lake, CA | 25 | 698.8116 | $10,000 | B'Mackin BBQ |
| May 27, 2022 | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships (Day 1) state champ. | Big Bear Lake, CA | 25 | 701.6572 | $10,000 | Smokin' Volts BBQ |
| May 6, 2022 | Eastern Sierra BBQ, Chili & Salsa Festival state champ. | Bishop, CA | 4 | 696.5260 | — | OM BBQ COMPANY |
| Apr 8, 2022 | BBQ, Boots & Brew state champ. | Perris, CA | 29 | 702.2512 | $5,000 | Meat Candy Q |
| Feb 18, 2022 | BBQ & Brew 'Best in the Southwest' Festival state champ. | Yuma, AZ | 34 | 708 | $10,200 | Loot N' Booty BBQ |
| Aug 20, 2021 | Western Legends BBQ Contest state champ. | Kanab, UT | 26 | 690.2284 | $10,000 | YSB BBQ |
| Jun 25, 2021 | Miles City Cowtown Cook Off state champ. | Miles City, MT | 25 | 704.5600 | — | Owens BBQ |
| May 28, 2021 | Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships state champ. | Big Bear Lake, CA | 27 | 705.1316 | $10,000 | Mudville BBQ |
| May 21, 2021 | BBQ, Boots & Brew state champ. | Perris, CA | 25 | 706.2284 | $5,000 | Big Poppa Smokers |
| Aug 14, 2020 | Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival state champ. | Kanab, UT | 42 | 698.2748 | $11,000 | Utah BBQ Company |
| Feb 28, 2020 | Best in the Desert Southwest KCBS BBQ Competition state champ. | Yuma, AZ | 29 | 694.2516 | $7,200 | Big Poppa Smokers |
| Jan 3, 2020 | Red Rock BBQ state champ. | Hurrican, UT | 15 | 698.8112 | $6,300 | GETTIN' BASTED BARBEQUE |
| Aug 16, 2019 | Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off state champ. | Kanab, UT | 18 | 699.4400 | $11,000 | CowTippin'BBQ |
| May 24, 2019 | Big Bear Grill & Chill state champ. | Big Bear Lake, CA | 25 | 689.6684 | $10,000 | B 'MACKIN BBQ |
| TBA | Los Angeles Backyard (BACKYARD ONLY)- (Postponed) | Los Angeles, CA | — | — | — | — |