Walk The Swine

Walk The Swine is a competition barbecue team with 19 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 27 at the VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition (2023). They are ranked #1072 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,072

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1597

peak 1597 · rated over 19 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 19, 2013

latest Oct 24, 2025 · 12.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#682

Master 2024 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

5 podiums

Overall top-10s

16% of 19 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s, still running

Avg finish

top 36%

overall standings

Best overall

703.3712 / 720

Master · VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

684.25 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 655.69 (+28.56)

Walk rate

58%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork · VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition

Consistency

±23.36

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 166.00 · weakest Chicken (161.15)

Road miles

2,577

across 19 mapped stops · furthest 994 mi

Schedule strength

39%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1552)

Purse competed for

$47K

listed at 5 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

655.69 / 720

19 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork.

Pork ×1

High-water mark

703.3712 career-best overall

97.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 703.3712 at VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition — 97.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
Nov 3, 2023

A tough matchup

12–2 behind in the head-to-head

APORKALYPSE NOW ahead in 86% of their meetings

APORKALYPSE NOW has come out ahead in 12 of their 14 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.8 points behind their best meat

Chicken is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.85 points below their brisket, and turns into a call 26% of the time against 42%.

Chicken avg 161.15
Brisket avg 166.00
5 calls in 19 entries

A strong matchup

5–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 71% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Big D's BBQ in 5 of their 7 shared contests.

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition (Oct 24, 2025).

last seen Nov 3, 2023
back Oct 24, 2025

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Poppa Pig has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 1 more storyline

An October team

Top 24% average finish in October

Something about October: average finish in the top 24% across 3 contests, versus top 36% the rest of the year.

3 October contests
top 36% the rest of the year

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
2024 ↗	Master	#682 (227 pts)	#873 (157 pts)	#860 (177 pts)	#644 (277 pts)	#899 (127 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#713 (211 pts)	#818 (186 pts)	#896 (186 pts)	#788 (186 pts)	#705 (236 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#1004 (115 pts)	#824 (175 pts)	#1269 (70 pts)	#1068 (110 pts)	#1150 (85 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1436 (140 pts)	#1542 (130 pts)	#1298 (195 pts)	#1454 (155 pts)	#1100 (260 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1505 (155 pts)	#1778 (120 pts)	#1776 (120 pts)	#1311 (235 pts)	#1068 (295 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1537 (160 pts)	#1666 (150 pts)	#1538 (175 pts)	#1372 (220 pts)	#1625 (160 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#830 (367 pts)	#891 (362 pts)	#869 (367 pts)	#616 (537 pts)	#653 (497 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Walk The Swine, each with one reason worth a look.

32 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

BURNIN BELLIES

#1,073 of the rated field

1597 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 30%
Peak: 1597

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 20 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Jan 17, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

Chompa Q

#1,078 of the rated field

1596 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 53%
Peak: 1598

Careers of much the same size, 17 contests to 19, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Apr 24, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

R&R BBQ

#1,076 of the rated field

1597 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 61%
Peak: 1632

Their rating is built on 2 Grand Championships in 23 contests, alongside a 61% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Jul 24, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

ZZ-QUE

#1,079 of the rated field

1596 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 54%
Peak: 1621

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 8 years before Walk The Swine's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 26 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Alderfire BBQ

#1,070 of the rated field

1597 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1597

They turned up 6 years after Walk The Swine did, first appearing in 2019.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

2 WORTHLESS NUTS, NATURAL BORN GRILLERS

#1,077 of the rated field

1597 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 73%
Peak: 1597

Level with Walk The Swine on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2015

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
APORKALYPSE NOW	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
3 EYZ BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
SAUCE THIS BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
PIGHEADED BBQ	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
Big D's BBQ	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
SLOWER LOWER BBQ	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
Rogue Hog BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
LO' -N- SLO' BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Broke Bob's BBQ	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare
HOG STREET BULLIES	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	5	0	0	177.7028	143.4284	161.15	top 55%
Pork Ribs	19	4	0	1	176.5600	147.4056	163.32	top 41%
Pork	19	5	2	2	180 🔥	150.8570	165.22	top 35%
Brisket	19	8	0	2	176.5828	158.2284	166.00	top 30%

“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 27%
Medium (20–39)	4	top 30%
Large (40+)	14	top 38%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
DE	5	top 35%
MD	5	top 51%
LA	2	top 13%
MS	2	top 32%
VA	2	top 34%
DC	2	top 32%
PA	1	top 34%

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 4 contests

Contests a season 1.9 across 10 seasons in the data

Most contests held in DE 5 of 19 contests · 7 states in all

Contests visited 19 a different one every time

Opponents faced 591 finished ahead 662 times, behind 385

Longest layoff 2 yrs Nov 3, 2023 → Oct 24, 2025

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

20252 milestones

Oct 24 Peak power rating (1597) VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition
Oct 24 Most recent contest VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition

20232 milestones

Nov 3 First perfect 180 (Pork) VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition
Nov 3 Career-best overall score703.3712 VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition

20222 milestones

Nov 4 First overall top-10 Biloxi Blues & BBQ Festival
Nov 4 First overall podium Biloxi Blues & BBQ Festival

20171 milestone

Apr 7 10th tracked contest Boss Frogs BBQ

20151 milestone

Jun 27 First overall past 90% of a perfect score665.5996 National Capital Barbecue Battle

20133 milestones

Apr 19 First tracked contest Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival
May 17 First call Middletown BBQ Cook Off
May 17 First category win (Pork) Middletown BBQ Cook Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+12.8	VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition	Nov 3, 2023
+11.4	BBQ Gives Back-IV (DAY 2)	Mar 23, 2019
+11.1	VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition	Oct 24, 2025
+8.9	Biloxi Blues & BBQ Festival	Nov 4, 2022
+8.7	Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival	Apr 19, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-4.5	Boss Frogs BBQ	Apr 7, 2017
-4	Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival	May 3, 2013

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2025	1	1	0	100%	top 15%	96.7%	96.7%
2023	1	1	1	100%	top 11%	97.7%	97.7%
2022	1	1	0	100%	top 27%	95.6%	95.6%
2021	1	0	0	100%	top 37%	92.9%	92.9%
2019	3	0	0	100%	top 29%	93.5%	92.2%
2018	2	0	0	50%	top 45%	91.7%	91.2%
2017	1	0	0	0%	top 73%	88.7%	88.7%
2015	3	0	0	67%	top 33%	92.4%	91.2%
2014	2	0	0	0%	top 44%	89.1%	87.7%
2013	4	0	1	25%	top 39%	89.7%	87.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 24, 2025	VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA	5 / 33 (696.5256)	5 (177.7028)	13 (174.2628)	6 (174.8572)	9 (169.7028)
Nov 3, 2023	VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA	3 / 27 (703.3712)	7 (174.8456)	5 (176.5600)	1 (180)	10 (171.9656)
Nov 4, 2022	Biloxi Blues & BBQ Festival 🏅 Biloxi, MS	3 / 11 (688.4684)	4 (174.8456)	4 (167.3944)	4 (171.9656)	2 (174.2628)
May 1, 2021	Hog Wild BBQ Cook off, Kids Que and Family Festival 🏅 Brookhaven, MS	14 / 38 (669.0172)	6 (173.7028)	23 (162.8344)	15 (167.3828)	20 (165.0972)
Oct 18, 2019	Boo-B-Que 🏅 Rehoboth Beach, DE	15 / 63 (663.8744)	9 (170.8344)	9 (167.9656)	27 (164.5372)	35 (160.5372)
May 17, 2019	Twin Valley Fire and Smoke 🏅 Morgantown, PA	15 / 44 (655.2688)	40 (152.5144)	3 (174.2628)	26 (159.9544)	12 (168.5372)
Mar 23, 2019	BBQ Gives Back-IV (DAY 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	15 / 52 (673.0280)	45 (160.5256)	11 (171.9656)	20 (167.3712)	7 (173.1656)
Oct 19, 2018	Boo-B-Que Rehoboth Beach, DE	25 / 73 (659.9316)	30 (165.1316)	16 (167.4172)	51 (155.4056)	8 (171.9772)
Aug 10, 2018	Maryland State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD	21 / 38 (653.0628)	23 (161.6456)	19 (164.5716)	18 (160.5256)	16 (166.3200)
Apr 7, 2017	Boss Frogs BBQ Hurlock, MD	33 / 45 (638.8112)	29 (161.1200)	42 (147.4056)	14 (167.4628)	20 (162.8228)
Aug 21, 2015	VA BBQ Championships Hampton, VA	18 / 46 (658.8800)	43 (150.8000)	26 (160.6172)	6 (170.8800)	3 (176.5828)
Jun 27, 2015	National Capital Barbecue Battle Washington, DC	13 / 42 (665.5996)	20 (163.4172)	25 (161.6568)	13 (167.9656)	6 (172.5600)
Apr 10, 2015	Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival Harrington, DE	29 / 99 (646.1600)	41 (162.2744)	36 (162.2400)	32 (162.8228)	50 (158.8228)
Aug 1, 2014	Southern Maryland Brew & BBQ Leonardtown, MD	23 / 59 (641.5996)	47 (154.8000)	20 (164.5828)	13 (163.9884)	23 (158.2284)
Apr 11, 2014	Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair Harrington, DE	54 / 109 (621.1088)	88 (147.9772)	72 (147.9772)	23 (164.0344)	28 (161.1200)
Jun 22, 2013	Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle Washington, DC	14 / 42 (645.7142)	11 (161.7142)	13 (165.7144)	21 (159.9998)	16 (158.2858)
May 17, 2013	Middletown BBQ Cook Off Middletown, DE	21 / 56 (626.8574)	41 (148.5714)	38 (147.4286)	1 (170.2860)	9 (160.5714)
May 3, 2013	Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival Annapolis, MD	34 / 55 (617.1424)	49 (143.4284)	22 (159.4286)	40 (150.8570)	12 (163.4284)
Apr 19, 2013	Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival Salisbury, MD	25 / 106 (633.7140)	66 (155.9998)	32 (158.8572)	35 (158.8572)	23 (159.9998)

Walk The Swine

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

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 (8 found in their record)

Perfect scores on the board

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Looking over their shoulder

An October team

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)

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)