Parrothead Porkers named Grand Champions

Parrothead Porkers Barbecue Team from Memphis, Tenn. was named Grand Champion's at this year's 25th Annual Jaycees Barbecue Cookoff. The teams were judged on Saturday in three categories, the whole hog category, shoulder and ribs category. Not only were the Porkers this year's grand champs but they took home First Place in the ribs category and Fifth Place in the shoulder category, winning a total of $1,500 in cash and a free entry into the Memphis in May Barbecue Cookoff. [Click to enlarge]

During the weekend, barbecue enthusiasts fired up their grills for the Kennett Jaycees 25th Annual Show-Me State Barbecue Cook-Off.

The cook-off is in connection with Memphis in May and attracts the best of the best teams from all around. Teams came from Memphis, Tenn., to Carbondale, Ill. to participate in the challenge and compete for the chance to take home huge bragging rights as well as go on to participate in the well-known Memphis in May Barbecue Cook-off.

This year featured teams like Buzzin' Cuzzins of Kennett, Tower Rocks BBQ of Murphysboro, Ill., Natural Born Grillers of Southaven, Miss., Carbondale Eagles of Carbondale, Ill., Gwatney Championship BBQ Team of Cordova, Tenn., Pigs in Paradise of Murphysboro, Ill., Porkasaurus of Bartlett, Tenn., Boat Club Castaways of Hayti, Bad Bob's Compucookers of Dyersburg, Tenn., Holy Smokers' Too of Collierville, Tenn., Parrot Head Porkers of Memphis, Tenn., Party-Q of Batesville, Ark., Huish Grill Team of Dyersburg, Tenn., Squeeelers of Portageville, Mo., and Old McMitchell Had a Pharmacy of Kennett.

Barbecue judging began at 10 a.m. on Saturday and trophies were presented to winners.

Judges selected for the competition were professionals who have had a lot of experience in judging competitions and most are highly trained at what defines excellence in barbecue.

The competition used sanctioned judges who have in most cases attended schools in areas like Memphis to become pros on being aware of what they are looking for in the perfect recipe for prize winning barbecue.

The competition involved three categories, which included ribs, shoulder, and whole hog. When the judging was complete and the competition was over there was only one team standing proud as the 2006 Grand Champion. That team was the Parrothead Porkers who won over $1,500 and a paid entry into the World Championship BBQ Cook-off in Memphis during May, 2007.

Additionally there were first place winning teams in the selected categories that received a $600 cash prize.

The Natural Born Grillers placed first in both the whole hog and shoulder category, while the Parrothead Porkers took first place in the ribs category. The Carbondale Eagles placed second in both the whole hog and ribs and Tower Rock Barbecue placed second in the shoulder category.

The Kennett Jaycees gave away over $7,000 in cash at this year's competition.