HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO.

HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. is a competition barbecue team with 23 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 15th of 26 at the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival (2021). They are ranked #6185 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#6,185

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1423

peak 1423 · rated over 16 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 22, 2014

latest Aug 15, 2025 · 11 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#864

Master 2024 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 23 contests

Avg finish

top 73%

overall standings

Best overall

671.9200 / 720

Master · Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

Perfect 180s

Current form

649.90 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 653.95 (-4.05)

Walk rate

26%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

175.4172

Pork Ribs · Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

Consistency

±10.24

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.07 · weakest Brisket (160.92)

Road miles

1,203

across 23 mapped stops · furthest 137 mi

Schedule strength

45%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1559)

Purse competed for

$112K

listed at 9 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 10 state-championship entries

Master avg

653.95 / 720

16 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

671.9200 career-best overall

93.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 671.9200 at Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival — 93.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 20, 2021

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

COOL HAND QUE ahead in 100% of their meetings

COOL HAND QUE has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.1 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.14 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 6% of the time against 6%.

Brisket avg 160.92
Chicken avg 165.07
1 call in 16 entries

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SMOKE SLINGERS - GA in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

The comeback

1.9 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.9 years, then back at SC Festival of Discovery (Jul 9, 2021).

last seen Aug 23, 2019
back Jul 9, 2021

Chicken nemesis

9 of 9 shared chicken entries lost

SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS has out-cooked them in 9 of 9 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

BALDY'S BUTTS has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 2 more storylines

The metronome

±1.42% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.42% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.8% of a perfect score
23 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival every year from 2021 to 2024 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 15th

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
2025 ↗	Master	#1102 (72 pts)	#1159 (77 pts)	#1270 (67 pts)	#1133 (77 pts)	#1067 (92 pts)
2024 ↗	Master	#864 (126 pts)	#917 (141 pts)	#943 (141 pts)	#772 (196 pts)	#917 (121 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#1616 (52 pts)	#1274 (72 pts)	#1109 (122 pts)	#1611 (52 pts)	#1612 (52 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#1065 (115 pts)	#1017 (130 pts)	#1060 (135 pts)	#1114 (115 pts)	#1103 (115 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1392 (180 pts)	#1458 (190 pts)	#1414 (205 pts)	#1296 (235 pts)	#1325 (225 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2158 (60 pts)	#1935 (110 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#1988 (100 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2518 (70 pts)	#1558 (175 pts)	#2560 (70 pts)	#2573 (70 pts)	#2542 (70 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO., each with one reason worth a look.

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

Iron Head Barbeque

#6,184 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1502

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO.)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jun 16, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS

#6,186 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 155
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1423

0–3 in 3 shared contests (0% to HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO.)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 155 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 155 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

IBEW SMOKIN' SPARKYS

#6,180 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1504

Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 4 years before HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO.'s most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 15 contests

⚔ Compare careers

SULTANS OF SWINE, NC

#6,187 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1423

Fewer contests behind them than HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO. has cooked, 13 to 23, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jun 3, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

ALWAYS SAUCED

#6,188 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1423

20 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 10% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Jun 12, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Black & Veatch

#6,179 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1501

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2014.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Willingham's	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
Stewbabys BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Quenut BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
COOL HAND QUE	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
MAYA JANE BBQ CO.	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
ATLANTA BBQ STORE	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
Angry Jack BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
CHOOCHOO BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
YES, DEAR BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
ROLLIN KOLBZ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Bald Hawg BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	16	1	175.4056	154.2284	165.07	top 69%
Pork Ribs	16	0	175.4172	151.9316	163.68	top 68%
Pork	16	4	174.8456	153.0744	164.28	top 64%
Brisket	16	1	168.5600	143.9316	160.92	top 67%

“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	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	10	0	top 73%
Large (40+)	6	0	top 73%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
GA	14	0	top 73%
SC	2	0	top 71%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival	4	15	0	top 80%	Aug 16, 2024
Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival	4	15	0	top 64%	Aug 23, 2019

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 4 contests

Contests a season 1.9 across 12 seasons in the data

Most contests held in GA 20 of 23 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 10 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 411 finished ahead 182 times, behind 620

Longest layoff 1.9 yrs Aug 23, 2019 → Jul 9, 2021

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

20251 milestone

Aug 15 Most recent contest Pigs & Peaches

20231 milestone

Aug 18 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)175.4172 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

20211 milestone

Aug 20 Career-best overall score671.9200 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

20171 milestone

Jul 14 10th tracked contest The Georgia Smithfield Guinea Pig

20151 milestone

Jun 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.1140 Euharlee Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier)

20142 milestones

Aug 22 First call Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier)
Aug 22 Peak power rating (1495) Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier)

20131 milestone

Jul 11 First tracked contest SC Festival of Discovery

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+0.6	The Georgia Smithfield Guinea Pig	Jul 14, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.2	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival	Aug 18, 2023
-9.9	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival	Aug 19, 2022
-9	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival	Mar 1, 2024
-7.5	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival	Aug 16, 2024
-5.9	Rock'n Ribville (GBC QUALIFIER)	Sep 15, 2017

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)
2025	1	0%	top 78%	91.7%	91.7%
2024	2	50%	top 87%	91%	89.9%
2023	1	0%	top 93%	88.6%	88.6%
2022	2	0%	top 79%	91.2%	90.4%
2021	2	50%	top 65%	93.3%	91.3%
2019	2	100%	top 57%	92.8%	92.4%
2018	1	100%	top 71%	90.4%	90.4%
2017	3	0%	top 70%	92.8%	91.4%
2016	2	0%	—	—	—
2015	4	0%	top 74%	90.8%	90.8%
2014	2	50%	top 69%	89.4%	89.4%
2013	1	0%	—	—	—

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 15, 2025	Pigs & Peaches 🏅 Kennesaw, GA	21 / 27 (660.4116)	20 (167.3828)	22 (160.5144)	20 (165.6800)	17 (166.8344)
Aug 16, 2024	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA	22 / 26 (655.2800)	19 (165.6800)	19 (163.3828)	9 (174.8456)	23 (151.3716)
Mar 1, 2024	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival 🏅 Lawrenceville, GA	53 / 59 (639.2800)	56 (154.2284)	46 (164.0116)	55 (153.0744)	35 (167.9656)
Aug 18, 2023	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA	25 / 27 (638.1144)	21 (165.6800)	11 (175.4172)	26 (153.0856)	27 (143.9316)
Aug 19, 2022	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA	26 / 30 (656.4228)	22 (169.1200)	21 (166.2400)	29 (161.0972)	26 (159.9656)
Jul 7, 2022	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	65 / 92 (644.9260)	79 (155.9084)	68 (158.2288)	45 (167.9888)	56 (162.8000)
Aug 20, 2021	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA	15 / 26 (671.9200)	12 (169.7028)	13 (167.9888)	9 (170.8228)	20 (163.4056)
Jul 9, 2021	SC Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	58 / 81 (643.2684)	61 (160.5256)	53 (162.8000)	54 (162.2400)	57 (157.7028)
Aug 23, 2019	Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA	15 / 32 (667.8284)	27 (163.9428)	22 (165.0972)	5 (170.2628)	11 (168.5256)
Jul 19, 2019	Piggin in the Park 🏅 Jasper, GA	17 / 25 (663.3028)	17 (166.8228)	16 (165.1200)	20 (162.8000)	7 (168.5600)
Aug 24, 2018	Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival Kennesaw, GA	24 / 34 (650.6512)	27 (162.2400)	20 (166.2400)	10 (171.4056)	33 (150.7656)
Sep 15, 2017	Rock'n Ribville (GBC QUALIFIER) Lawrenceville, GA	31 / 39 (647.8168)	35 (157.0856)	32 (159.9544)	31 (163.9540)	18 (166.8228)
Aug 25, 2017	Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival (GBC QUALIFIER) Kennesaw, GA	26 / 37 (658.1368)	24 (167.3940)	20 (167.9772)	31 (161.0856)	27 (161.6800)
Jul 14, 2017	The Georgia Smithfield Guinea Pig Cummings, GA	25 / 41 (667.8972)	24 (167.9656)	25 (165.1316)	14 (169.6800)	23 (165.1200)
Nov 18, 2016	Que'n in Cumming (Day 1) Cumming, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Aug 26, 2016	Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) Kennesaw, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Nov 20, 2015	The National BBQ Cup Cumming, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 3, 2015	Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 2 (GBC Qualifier) Rome, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Jun 5, 2015	Euharlee Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier) Euharlee, GA	31 / 42 (654.1140)	15 (171.9884)	41 (151.9316)	32 (162.8112)	17 (167.3828)
Apr 24, 2015	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Aug 22, 2014	Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) Kennesaw, GA	31 / 45 (643.8284)	7 (175.4056)	33 (158.8228)	36 (157.6800)	38 (151.9200)
Apr 25, 2014	BBQ Boogie & Blues (SBBQA) Calhoun, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Jul 11, 2013	SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	—	—	—	—	—

HICKORY FLAT BBQ CO.

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 (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The metronome

A standing appointment

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)