PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE

PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE is a competition barbecue team with 23 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 16th of 16 at the Smoke on the Waterfall (2015). They are ranked #6477 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#6,477

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1347

peak 1347 · rated over 23 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 24, 2014

latest Sep 13, 2019 · 5.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#946

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 23 contests

Avg finish

top 90%

overall standings

Best overall

661.0972 / 720

Master · Smokin In Steele

Perfect 180s

Current form

615.28

last 5 Master vs avg 614.99 (+0.28)

Walk rate

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

171.9656

Pork · 9th Annual Big Island BBQ

Consistency

±26.42

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 160.13 · weakest Brisket (151.49)

Road miles

2,373

across 23 mapped stops · furthest 186 mi

Schedule strength

49%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1563)

Purse competed for

$29K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

614.99 / 720

23 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (6 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Smoke 'n Beers has finished one call ahead of PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2017 their best year

2017 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 73%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 73%

A tough matchup

17–0 behind in the head-to-head

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead in 100% of their meetings

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has come out ahead in 17 of their 17 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.6 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.64 points below their pork, and turns into a call 4% of the time against 9%.

Brisket avg 151.49
Pork avg 160.13
1 call in 23 entries

A strong matchup

3–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of OLD BOY'S BBQ in 3 of their 4 shared contests.

Pork nemesis

16 of 16 shared pork entries lost

SPITFIRE ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SPITFIRE has out-cooked them in 16 of 16 shared pork entries.

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019 ↗	Master	#1296 (171 pts)	#1272 (186 pts)	#1344 (171 pts)	#1235 (201 pts)	#1242 (191 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1266 (180 pts)	#1319 (180 pts)	#1298 (195 pts)	#1342 (180 pts)	#1330 (180 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1338 (190 pts)	#1493 (180 pts)	#1460 (190 pts)	#1176 (280 pts)	#1325 (225 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#946 (350 pts)	#925 (395 pts)	#1073 (320 pts)	#835 (470 pts)	#782 (485 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1097 (266 pts)	#1081 (296 pts)	#1167 (271 pts)	#997 (346 pts)	#990 (336 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1340 (207 pts)	#1423 (207 pts)	#1405 (207 pts)	#1304 (237 pts)	#1397 (207 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE, each with one reason worth a look.

3 THIRDS BBQ

#6,474 of the rated field

1348 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1348

3–2 in 5 shared contests (60% to PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE)

These two have cooked 5 of the same contests — PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE ahead 3–2 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Jun 1, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

A 2 Z

#6,479 of the rated field

1346 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1346

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 23 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Oct 8, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

SILVER FOX BBQ

#6,473 of the rated field

1348 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1348

Careers of much the same size, 24 contests to 23, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Oct 15, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

Lord Of The Ribs BBQ

#6,475 of the rated field

1348 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1348

22 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Apr 24, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

DUNN UP BBQ

#6,478 of the rated field

1346 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 58
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 2%
Peak: 1346

Level with PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 58 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

smokey anderson bbq

#6,476 of the rated field

1347 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 68
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 1%
Peak: 1347

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 68 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 68 contests
last seen Jul 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	17	0	17	0%	⚔ compare
SPITFIRE	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
Hogline	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
LUCKY'S Q	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
CROIX VALLEY SAUCES	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
CITY SLICKERS BBQ	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
TRUE SMOKE BBQ	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
SONS OF BUTCHERS	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
CASE OF RIBS	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
DRY 2 DA BONE	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
MYASSIS SMOKIN	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
REBEL FIRE QUE'N COMPANY	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	23	0	168.0344	142.2972	158.19	top 82%
Pork Ribs	22	0	165.7144	118.6172	151.78	top 85%
Pork	23	2	171.9656	150.2172	160.13	top 69%
Brisket	23	1	170.2972	134.1944	151.49	top 79%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 100%
Medium (20–39)	11	top 89%
Large (40+)	11	top 89%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MN	18	top 89%
IA	3	top 93%
WI	2	top 88%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smokin In Steele	4	23	top 81%	May 31, 2019
SMSU Smokefest	3	24	top 83%	Aug 17, 2018
Smoke on the Waterfall	2	16	top 100%	Jun 24, 2016
Bend of the River CookOut	2	41	top 99%	Jun 12, 2015
Smokin' in the Junction	2	28	top 90%	May 23, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 6 contests

Contests a season 3.8 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MN 18 of 23 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 15 5 of them more than once

Opponents faced 309 finished ahead 98 times, behind 781

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20191 milestone

Sep 13 Most recent contest KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-Off

20171 milestone

Jun 2 Career-best overall score661.0972 Smokin In Steele

20163 milestones

Jun 11 10th tracked contest Mankato Cookout Day 2 and ( Back Yard)
Aug 19 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.4912 SMSU Smokefest
Aug 26 Career-best single call (Pork)171.9656 9th Annual Big Island BBQ

20151 milestone

Jul 10 First call Smoke on the Waterfall

20142 milestones

May 24 First tracked contest Smokin' in the Junction
May 24 Peak power rating (1489) Smokin' in the Junction

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+6.9	Smokin In Steele	Jun 2, 2017
+2.7	SMSU Smokefest	Aug 19, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.5	Bend of the River CookOut	Jun 27, 2014
-11.4	Smoke on the Waterfall	Jul 10, 2015
-11.3	Smokin' in the Junction	May 24, 2014
-10.7	Smokin in Steele	May 30, 2014
-10.3	Bend of the River CookOut	Jun 12, 2015

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	3	0%	top 96%	85.9%	84.9%
2018	3	0%	top 94%	87%	85.7%
2017	3	0%	top 73%	91.8%	88.1%
2016	6	17%	top 87%	90.1%	84.9%
2015	4	25%	top 94%	85%	84.6%
2014	4	0%	top 93%	86.3%	85.1%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 13, 2019	KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-Off 🏅 Worthington, MN	26 / 26 (600.4688)	25 (142.2972)	26 (149.0744)	19 (159.4172)	21 (149.6800)
Aug 9, 2019	16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash 🏅 Mason City, IA	38 / 38 (614.1024)	37 (154.2284)	38 (149.6344)	37 (153.1540)	28 (157.0856)
May 31, 2019	Smokin In Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN	38 / 43 (618.6968)	22 (166.2856)	43 (145.0628)	31 (161.1312)	39 (146.2172)
Aug 17, 2018	SMSU Smokefest Marshall, MN	38 / 40 (626.7200)	37 (153.7028)	22 (165.7144)	31 (161.6800)	38 (145.6228)
Jun 22, 2018	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	39 / 41 (616.3884)	30 (164.5600)	39 (146.8000)	30 (159.9656)	39 (145.0628)
Jun 1, 2018	Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN	42 / 45 (609.0512)	39 (154.8800)	40 (155.4056)	40 (151.9656)	41 (146.8000)
Aug 18, 2017	SMSU Smokefest Marshall, MN	36 / 41 (625.0516)	39 (152.5372)	36 (153.0972)	17 (165.7144)	34 (153.7028)
Jun 23, 2017	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	30 / 37 (617.6684)	33 (154.8000)	35 (141.1428)	23 (159.9884)	18 (161.7372)
Jun 2, 2017	Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN	23 / 46 (661.0972)	29 (164.0116)	23 (163.3828)	15 (168.5828)	23 (165.1200)
Aug 26, 2016	9th Annual Big Island BBQ Albert Lea, MN	45 / 48 (510.2400)	28 (167.9772)	—	10 (171.9656)	10 (170.2972)
Aug 19, 2016	SMSU Smokefest Marshall, MN	24 / 37 (648.4912)	21 (168.0228)	29 (157.0856)	27 (158.2400)	13 (165.1428)
Jun 24, 2016	Smoke on the Waterfall Redwoodfalls, MN	26 / 26 (618.1604)	25 (157.6688)	18 (161.1088)	24 (153.1084)	24 (146.2744)
Jun 17, 2016	Treasure Island BBQ/ Steak Food Fest Red Wing, MN	25 / 34 (625.5656)	28 (156.5028)	25 (159.4056)	16 (164.5372)	28 (145.1200)
Jun 11, 2016	Mankato Cookout Day 2 and ( Back Yard) Mankato, MN	32 / 32 (631.3944)	20 (168.0344)	29 (156.5828)	25 (162.2972)	32 (144.4800)
Jun 10, 2016	Mankato Cookout Day 1 Mankato, MN	30 / 33 (635.3828)	24 (166.8456)	31 (156)	25 (161.7028)	33 (150.8344)
Jul 10, 2015	Smoke on the Waterfall Redwood Falls, MN	16 / 16 (607.8404)	12 (160.5144)	15 (146.2288)	5 (166.9028)	16 (134.1944)
Jun 12, 2015	Bend of the River CookOut Mankato, MN	41 / 42 (611.2348)	40 (154.2516)	30 (162.8116)	42 (150.2172)	40 (143.9544)
May 29, 2015	Smokin' in Steel Owatonna, MN	54 / 60 (604.4232)	53 (155.9544)	47 (154.8344)	50 (154.2628)	57 (139.3716)
May 23, 2015	Smokin' in the Junction West Des Moines, IA	33 / 37 (612.2856)	23 (164.5256)	35 (118.6172)	26 (160.5600)	11 (168.5828)
Aug 15, 2014	Smokefest Marshall, MN	29 / 32 (616.0116)	31 (155.9772)	26 (152.5944)	19 (161.1772)	30 (146.2628)
Jun 27, 2014	Bend of the River CookOut Mankato, MN	50 / 50 (598.1028)	49 (149.0972)	48 (143.9544)	44 (158.8112)	50 (146.2400)
May 30, 2014	Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN	61 / 67 (621.7032)	65 (154.8572)	58 (153.7372)	51 (160.5488)	58 (152.5600)
May 24, 2014	Smokin' in the Junction West Des Moines, IA	28 / 31 (614.7888)	29 (150.8344)	29 (146.8572)	23 (157.1200)	23 (159.9772)

PAPA BEAR BAR-B-QUE

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (6 found in their record)

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork nemesis

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)