Hawg Feathers

Hawg Feathers is a competition barbecue team with 49 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2024. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 26 at the Smoke in the Valley (2015). They are ranked #1046 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,046

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1600

peak 1618 · rated over 48 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 30, 2014

latest Mar 15, 2024 · 9.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#396

Master 2019 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

14 podiums

Overall top-10s

24% of 49 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 46%

overall standings

Best overall

694.8228 / 720

Master · Nebo Fall Festival BBQ

Perfect 180s

3 🔥

Current form

670.13 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 673.22 (-3.09)

Walk rate

67%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Chicken · Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship

Consistency

±11.67

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 170.92 · weakest Pork (166.39)

Road miles

7,640

across 49 mapped stops · furthest 623 mi

Schedule strength

70%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1588)

Purse competed for

$107K

listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 9 state-championship entries

Master avg

673.22 / 720

48 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (14 found in their record)

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

Perfect scores on the board

3 perfect 180s

3 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.

Chicken ×2
Pork Ribs ×1

They almost always walk

67% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 33 of 49 contests

A top-10 category call in 67% of their 49 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

694.8228 career-best overall

96.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 694.8228 at Nebo Fall Festival BBQ — 96.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 18, 2015

The one to beat

4× one call ahead of them

ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN has finished one call ahead of Hawg Feathers 4 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2014 their best year

2014 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 35%.

5 contests
2 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 35%

A tough matchup

24–3 behind in the head-to-head

Organizer Portal ahead in 89% of their meetings

Organizer Portal has come out ahead in 24 of their 27 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.5 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.54 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 20% of the time against 45%.

Pork avg 166.39
Chicken avg 170.92
10 calls in 49 entries

Show 7 more storylines

A strong matchup

15–4 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 79% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BIG G BBQ in 15 of their 19 shared contests.

The comeback

4.2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 4.2 years, then back at Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) (Oct 20, 2023).

last seen Jul 26, 2019
back Oct 20, 2023

Chicken nemesis

17 of 26 shared chicken entries lost

ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN ahead 65% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN has out-cooked them in 17 of 26 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

SMOKE'M IF U GOT'M has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An August team

Top 29% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 29% across 6 contests, versus top 46% the rest of the year.

6 August contests
top 46% the rest of the year

The long haul

7,640 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 7,640 miles across 49 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 623 miles to BBQ Battle Royale at Taste of Dallas.

49 mapped stops
furthest 623 mi

The metronome

±1.60% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.60% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.5% of a perfect score
49 contests

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	#1182 (60 pts)	#1242 (60 pts)	#1317 (60 pts)	#1231 (60 pts)	#1204 (60 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#396 (811 pts)	#248 (1,136 pts)	#393 (841 pts)	#461 (756 pts)	#318 (996 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Hawg Feathers, each with one reason worth a look.

RUBY CREEK BBQ

#1,047 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1600

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Hawg Feathers)

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

rated over 23 contests
last seen Jun 19, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

IRON WHEEL COOKERS

#1,042 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 50
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1624

Their last contest in the data was back in 2020, 4 years before Hawg Feathers's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 50 contests

⚔ Compare careers

KC Meat Sweats

#1,051 of the rated field

1599 power rating

Contests: 65
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1628

Careers of much the same size, 65 contests to 49, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 60 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

REED BOYZ BBQ

#1,050 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1617

28 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 32% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Apr 28, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

Rio Good BBQ

#1,045 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1603

They turned up 10 years after Hawg Feathers did, first appearing in 2024.

rated over 19 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

GORILLA ISLANDS

#1,049 of the rated field

1600 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1600

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 18 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Mar 23, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKE ON THIS	27	9	18	33%	⚔ compare
Organizer Portal	27	3	24	11%	⚔ compare
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	26	4	22	15%	⚔ compare
SWIGGIN PIG	25	4	21	16%	⚔ compare
WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS	22	5	17	23%	⚔ compare
BIG G BBQ	19	15	4	79%	⚔ compare
RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES	17	6	11	35%	⚔ compare
HOT COLE'S BBQ	17	4	13	24%	⚔ compare
THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW	16	8	8	50%	⚔ compare
HIGH ON THE HAWG	15	6	9	40%	⚔ compare
Under the Radar	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
Big B BBQ Company	14	10	4	71%	⚔ compare
BLUE CHIP BBQ	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare
HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS	13	12	1	92%	⚔ compare
WILD BOAR SMOKERS	13	10	3	77%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	49	22	2	5	180 🔥	150.2056	170.92	top 39%
Pork Ribs	49	9	1	3	180 🔥	158.2628	167.97	top 48%
Pork	49	10	1	2	177.7144	155.3600	166.39	top 57%
Brisket	49	14	3	4	179.4400	153.6800	167.94	top 47%

“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)	3	top 63%
Medium (20–39)	27	top 45%
Large (40+)	19	top 46%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
TN	23	top 43%
GA	8	top 53%
KY	8	top 48%
AL	3	top 58%
MS	3	top 43%
IN	1	top 43%
MO	1	top 28%
TX	1	top 78%
NC	1	top 26%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	3	16	top 59%	May 12, 2017
High on the Hog Festival	2	24	top 66%	Apr 19, 2019
Smoke on the Shores	2	16	top 46%	Mar 9, 2018
Mid-South Barbecue Festival	2	6	top 25%	Oct 16, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 18 contests

Contests a season 6.1 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in TN 23 of 49 contests · 9 states in all

Contests visited 44 4 of them more than once

Opponents faced 954 finished ahead 1,144 times, behind 988

Longest layoff 4.2 yrs Jul 26, 2019 → Oct 20, 2023

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

20241 milestone

Mar 15 Most recent contest Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship

20191 milestone

Apr 5 Peak power rating (1618) Operation Stand Down KY II Annual Smoke off

20161 milestone

Mar 11 25th tracked contest Smoke on the Shores

20155 milestones

Apr 24 First category win (Brisket) BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)
May 15 10th tracked contest Sevierville Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass Festival
Aug 7 First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) Smokin' in McMinnville
Aug 28 First overall podium Smoke in the Valley
Sep 18 Career-best overall score694.8228 Nebo Fall Festival BBQ

20144 milestones

Aug 30 First tracked contest Hawgin on Lanier (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier)
Aug 30 First overall past 90% of a perfect score661.0172 Hawgin on Lanier (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier)
Oct 10 First call Cullman Oktoberfest BBQ Challenge
Oct 10 First overall top-10 Cullman Oktoberfest BBQ Challenge

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15	Smoke on the Shores	Mar 10, 2017
+13.3	Great American BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL)	Aug 24, 2018
+13.2	Smoke in the Valley	Aug 28, 2015
+13.1	Smokin' in McMinnville	Aug 7, 2015
+12.5	Mid-South Barbecue Festival	Oct 17, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.5	Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship	Mar 15, 2024
-10.9	Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest	Apr 8, 2016
-9.1	High on the Hog Festival	Apr 19, 2019
-7.9	Southern Smoke BBQ Championship	May 19, 2017
-7.7	Smoke on the Shores	Mar 11, 2016

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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)
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 82%	92.4%	92.4%
2023	1	0	0	0%	top 89%	93.5%	93.5%
2019	8	1	2	75%	top 47%	95.3%	93.7%
2018	5	1	0	80%	top 38%	96%	93.6%
2017	3	1	2	67%	top 45%	95.2%	94.2%
2016	8	0	0	50%	top 58%	94.4%	92.6%
2015	18	7	3	78%	top 43%	96.5%	93.5%
2014	5	2	0	60%	top 35%	96.3%	94.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Mar 15, 2024	Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN	76 / 93 (665.5308)	71 (166.8228)	56 (167.4056)	79 (162.7768)	51 (168.5256)
Oct 20, 2023	Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) unrated Roswell, GA	31 / 35 (672.9712)	21 (171.9656)	35 (160.5028)	21 (171.9772)	23 (168.5256)
Jul 26, 2019	Fire on the Mountain 🏅 Leburn, KY	14 / 25 (663.2680)	16 (168.5256)	11 (167.3712)	12 (168.5600)	19 (158.8112)
Jul 12, 2019	Cumberland Plateau BBQ Cook-off & Cruise In 🏅 Jamestown, TN	19 / 29 (665.5656)	8 (174.2628)	17 (165.0972)	22 (165.0972)	21 (161.1084)
Jun 14, 2019	Barbourville BBQ Cookoff & Festival 🏅 Barbourville, KY	11 / 30 (683.8852)	19 (169.6684)	23 (165.6684)	5 (174.8456)	4 (173.7028)
May 17, 2019	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass 🏅 Sevierville, TN	17 / 43 (672.4224)	10 (171.9656)	14 (169.6800)	25 (164.5256)	16 (166.2512)
Apr 19, 2019	High on the Hog Festival 🏅 Winchester, TN	24 / 39 (670.1140)	35 (155.9084)	8 (174.2628)	18 (169.6800)	15 (170.2628)
Apr 5, 2019	Operation Stand Down KY II Annual Smoke off 🏅 Franklin, KY	5 / 28 (686.2056)	4 (174.8572)	20 (166.8228)	15 (166.8228)	1 (177.7028)
Mar 29, 2019	TN River BBQ Battle & Music Fest 🏅 Savannah, TN	18 / 29 (672.9828)	11 (171.9656)	15 (166.2516)	21 (166.2400)	19 (168.5256)
Mar 8, 2019	Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Nashville, TN	24 / 67 (679.8628)	1 (180)	15 (171.9772)	55 (160.5028)	43 (167.3828)
Oct 19, 2018	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off Munfordville, KY	17 / 29 (665.5656)	5 (174.2628)	14 (167.3944)	21 (162.8228)	22 (161.0856)
Sep 7, 2018	Smoke On The Ohio (JUDGES FULL) Mt.Vernon, IN	12 / 28 (666.1596)	8 (171.4172)	18 (159.3712)	13 (166.8228)	9 (168.5484)
Aug 24, 2018	Great American BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) Franklin, TN	4 / 36 (691.4288)	5 (175.4172)	3 (175.4516)	15 (167.9656)	9 (172.5944)
Aug 10, 2018	Smokin in McMinnville McMinnville, TN	16 / 28 (661.5656)	19 (166.2284)	12 (166.8344)	12 (169.6800)	20 (158.8228)
Mar 9, 2018	Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN	16 / 87 (683.8972)	15 (174.2628)	13 (174.2744)	10 (174.8572)	65 (160.5028)
May 19, 2017	Southern Smoke BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN	14 / 19 (672.4228)	1 (178.8572)	13 (166.2400)	6 (171.4172)	17 (155.9084)
May 12, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	16 / 29 (676.5028)	18 (169.1312)	14 (169.1316)	19 (167.9772)	15 (170.2628)
Mar 10, 2017	Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN	4 / 62 (685.5884)	34 (168.5256)	12 (171.9772)	29 (167.3828)	1 (177.7028)
May 13, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	17 / 29 (664.4340)	4 (174.2972)	14 (167.9656)	24 (157.0856)	16 (165.0856)
Apr 15, 2016	High on the Hog Festival Winchester, TN	39 / 56 (666.1600)	4 (177.7028)	14 (171.9772)	44 (162.8000)	54 (153.6800)
Apr 8, 2016	Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest Gadsden, AL	21 / 25 (651.2568)	23 (158.2400)	11 (168)	17 (162.7768)	20 (162.2400)
Apr 1, 2016	Blues Hog BBQ & Music Fest Jackson, TN	31 / 61 (670.0908)	24 (170.8112)	31 (166.2284)	31 (166.8228)	35 (166.2284)
Mar 19, 2016	Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 Tupelo, MS	42 / 61 (662.7200)	9 (175.4172)	49 (161.6800)	58 (155.3600)	23 (170.2628)
Mar 18, 2016	Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 Tupelo, MS	21 / 95 (679.8396)	25 (171.9656)	33 (168.5256)	35 (168.5256)	26 (170.8228)
Mar 11, 2016	Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN	36 / 49 (667.3368)	19 (170.2628)	42 (163.4056)	30 (166.2628)	23 (167.4056)
Mar 4, 2016	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) Lawrenceville, GA	23 / 59 (670.1712)	8 (174.2628)	39 (163.4056)	55 (156.5028)	7 (176)
Nov 20, 2015	The National BBQ Cup Cumming, GA	45 / 74 (670.6968)	20 (173.1200)	41 (167.9656)	52 (165.0856)	51 (164.5256)
Oct 16, 2015	Mid-South Barbecue Festival Mount Pleasant, TN	10 / 31 (685.5884)	8 (170.8228)	23 (166.2400)	10 (174.2628)	7 (174.2628)
Oct 3, 2015	Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 2 (GBC Qualifier) Rome, GA	27 / 41 (667.8628)	26 (168.5256)	7 (173.7144)	33 (163.9428)	33 (161.6800)
Oct 2, 2015	Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 1 (GBC Qualifier) Rome, GA	22 / 52 (674.6968)	17 (173.1200)	7 (174.8456)	48 (158.2056)	25 (168.5256)
Sep 18, 2015	Nebo Fall Festival BBQ Nebo, KY	6 / 16 (694.8228)	7 (171.9656)	11 (169.1084)	2 (177.7144)	6 (176.0344)
Sep 11, 2015	Tony Stone-Cookeville Cookoff Cookeville, TN	9 / 31 (689.0740)	4 (177.7028)	26 (166.2400)	9 (174.2856)	19 (170.8456)
Aug 28, 2015	Smoke in the Valley Pikeville, TN	3 / 26 (693.6344)	2 (180)	13 (169.6916)	1 (177.7028)	13 (166.2400)
Aug 21, 2015	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	16 / 58 (655.2912)	47 (150.2056)	3 (173.1428)	10 (169.6800)	19 (162.2628)
Aug 7, 2015	Smokin' in McMinnville McMinnville, TN	5 / 37 (693.0512)	25 (166.8228)	1 (180)	6 (174.2628)	16 (171.9656)
Jul 24, 2015	BBQ-Fest Cooking Contest Dyersburg, TN	21 / 35 (652.9940)	27 (161.6800)	18 (165.1428)	28 (161.6456)	21 (164.5256)
Jul 3, 2015	Blues Hog Barbecue, Music & Craft Festival Jackson, TN	25 / 51 (669.5768)	25 (168.5256)	20 (168.5600)	44 (161.6456)	12 (170.8456)
Jun 19, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	18 / 29 (664.4460)	20 (166.8344)	24 (161.0972)	20 (165.6800)	10 (170.8344)
Jun 13, 2015	BBQ Battle Royale at Taste of Dallas Dallas, TX	14 / 18 (654.7540)	8 (171.9884)	16 (158.2628)	17 (157.0972)	6 (167.4056)
May 15, 2015	Sevierville Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass Festival Sevierville, TN	21 / 44 (675.8512)	9 (175.4056)	28 (165.6800)	31 (167.3828)	29 (167.3828)
May 8, 2015	Boda Getta BBQ Auburn, AL	12 / 21 (653.0056)	13 (162.8000)	4 (168)	14 (158.8228)	11 (163.3828)
Apr 24, 2015	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	10 / 35 (676.4572)	6 (174.2628)	25 (159.9544)	22 (162.8000)	1 (179.4400)
Mar 13, 2015	Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Tupelo, MS	37 / 94 (665.0628)	30 (169.6800)	46 (162.2516)	44 (165.7028)	36 (167.4284)
Mar 6, 2015	"Come to Compete, Come to Learn" NBBQA Championship Nashville, TN	6 / 25 (685.6228)	4 (176.5600)	10 (171.9772)	18 (164.5256)	7 (172.5600)
Dec 5, 2014	Calhoun KOA's Calhoun, GA	17 / 38 (682.7428)	3 (175.4172)	15 (170.8344)	24 (167.9656)	23 (168.5256)
Oct 31, 2014	Hog Happnin' Shelby, NC	16 / 61 (675.2912)	15 (171.9656)	12 (173.7028)	46 (160.5028)	24 (169.1200)
Oct 17, 2014	Mid-South Barbecue Festival Mount Pleasant, TN	6 / 35 (693.6456)	24 (167.3828)	5 (174.2972)	5 (174.2628)	3 (177.7028)
Oct 10, 2014	Cullman Oktoberfest BBQ Challenge Cullman, AL	8 / 25 (684.4340)	3 (177.7028)	12 (168.5256)	15 (167.3828)	9 (170.8228)
Aug 30, 2014	Hawgin on Lanier (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Gainesville, GA	21 / 39 (661.0172)	25 (165.6684)	23 (164.5372)	20 (166.2400)	20 (164.5716)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

Hawg Feathers

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 (14 found in their record)

Perfect scores on the board

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

An August team

The long haul

The metronome

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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)