Comments Off on MABA is Raffling Off Three Awesome Cookers!
The Mid-Atlantic Barbecue Association is pleased to be able to raffle off THREE cookers at the 2017 Annual Meeting.
The first cooker is a Gateway Drum Smoker®, courtesy of Stone BBQ Supply.
The second cooker is the demo model of the new Shotgun BBQ Smoker, courtesy of The BBQ Guru. This cooker is not even on the market yet and has been burned a handful of times for show.
The third, is a portable wood-fire pizza oven called the UUNI, and comes courtesy of Mason Dixon BBQ Services
Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.
Tickets will be sold on the web until Thursday, March 9, 2017 and in person at the Annual Meeting. You DO NOT need to be present to win.
Your ticket numbers will be generated at random. Your tickets will be input into the drawing which will be held during the annual meeting on March 11, 2017 in Frederick, MD.
The Gateway Drum Smoker® winner will receive a gift certificate to redeem at Stone BBQ Supply and the Shotgun BBQ Smoker winner will receive a gift certificate to redeem at The BBQ Guru. Winner will need to contact the manufacturer to order the cooker. Any costs for customization or upgrades to the standard model, taxes, shipping costs, and/or other crating costs are the sole responsibility of the winner.
Again, you DO NOT need to be present to win this drawing.
Comments Off on MABA Team of the Year Scoring to be Conducted by BBQData.com
The MABA Board has entered into an agreement with BBQData.com to calculate the 2017 MABA Team of the Year Contest. The standings will update weekly as results are posted to MABA-approved sanctioning bodies. A link to the standings will be provided through the MABA website at www.mabbqa.com.
As a MABA member, you’ll be able to subscribe to BBQData.com for 10% off of the standard subscription price of $25. ($22.50 for MABA members.) Enter the code MABA2017 when you sign up. If you are already a BBQData.com subscriber and paid full price, you will be given a refund.
BBQData.com features include–
· View a synopsis for your team of the current year and prior years: The top ten scores, team averages and the number of contests by year.
· View scoring details for each meat category (Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket) and the Overall score.
· See a summary of teams’ results. This is a quick way to get an overview of each team’s BBQ career.
· Get a snapshot of estimated points standings.
Several teams in the MABA area have been beta-testing BBQData.com for a few months, and find the service invaluable. Statistics update as soon as the contest results are posted by MABA-approved sanctioning bodies.
In addition, BBQData.com is always adding different features and benefits to the system.
Comments Off on New Two-Tiered TOY Point System To Debut in 2017
MABA 2017 Team of the Year Rules
It is the Board’s pleasure to finally share with you the rules for the MABA 2017 Team of the Year. If you recall earlier last year, the Board conducted a membership survey and asked several team of the year questions. In the survey, it was evident that members by and large wanted to a.) get rid of the MABA Cup point multiplier, and b.) establish a tiered TOY system. Lots of work has gone into these changes. The major points include—
· The multiplier for the MABA Cup contests has been eliminated. All contests will use the same multiplier and points system.
· MABA TOY Division I will consist of teams that compete in 8 or more eligible competitions
· MABA TOY Division II will consist of teams that compete in 7 or less eligible competitions.
We think these changes to the system will be more inclusive and provide more competition for the membership as a whole.
This will help recognize more teams for their accomplishments through our awards program.
MABA 2017 Team of the Year (ToY) rules
I. MABA will break down cook teams into two divisions in 2017.
a. Division I will consist of teams that compete in 8 or more eligible competitions during the course of the competition season.
b. Division II will consist of teams that compete in 7 or less eligible competitions during the course of the competition season
c. A team DOES NOT have to declare what Division they wish to compete in during the season. This will be determined at year’s end automatically based on the number of eligible contests that are competed in.
II. Accumulating Points for Teams.
a. Team scores counted for Division I ToY shall be the EIGHT event tally of the sanctioning body point system for top EIGHT OR LESS finishes of MABA sanctioned contests and other sanctioning bodies as determined by the MABA Board of Directors within the Mid Atlantic BBQ Association States that include all of the primary 4 meat categories (Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork & Beef Brisket)
b. Team scores for Division II shall be the tally of the sanctioning body point system for top FIVE OR LESS finishes of MABA sanctioned contests and other sanctioning bodies as determined by the MABA Board of Directors within the Mid Atlantic BBQ Association States that consist of the primary 4 meat categories (Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork & Beef Brisket)
c. Competition Teams from Division II ARE eligible to win the Division I Team of the Year title if their combined points for the FIVE OR LESS contests competed in score enough points to make them eligible for Division I awards.
d. Only open meat contests will award MABA ToY points. Competitor series, and any other invitational or restricted entry events will not award ToY points regardless of their physical location with the exception of the Sam’s Club Tour LOCAL contests.
e. Only ONE team per Primary Membership is eligible to accumulate Team of the Year points in either division. That team MUST be designated BEFORE the beginning of the season. Points will not be scored or tracked for second or third or more teams on a membership.
f. Current Sanctioning bodies approved for MABA ToY for 2016:
• MABA
• KCBS
• SAMS Club Local Qualifiers ONLY – Regional’s and Finals are not included.
g. Points for Overall Event Rankings
1st place = 125 points
2nd place = 100 points
3rd place = 80 points
4th place = 70 points
5th place = 60 points
6th Place = 50 points
7th place = 45 points
8th place = 40 points
9th place = 35 points
10th place = 30 points
11th place = 25 points
12th place = 20 points
13th place = 15 points
14th place = 10 points
All other positions 15 and below = 5 Points.
Point bonus multiplier
Take the total number of teams at the event, divide is by 2 then express it as a percentage + 1
i.e. a 50 team event; 50 / 2 = 25 / 100 = .25 +1 = 1.25 or a 25% point bonus. Points will be carried out to 4 decimal places. (.0000)
MABA Cup events will NO LONGER CARRY BONUS POINTS! They will be scored the same as any other event.
III. MABA ToY points will be awarded in the following categories:
• Overall
• Chicken
• Pork Ribs
• Pork
• Beef Brisket
IV. A competition year is defined as a calendar year from January 1st through December 31st.
V. Recognition of TOY standings will be by team names attached to a chief cook and not by individual member’s names. MABA team names must be affiliated with designated chief cook in the MABA current membership database. The database is created from information listed on membership applications and/or annual renewals. The Chief Cook DOES NOT have to be present at an event in order for their team to accrue TOY points.
VI. TOY points are only awarded to teams with current chief cook MABA member in good standing. A team must apply for membership AND pay for membership by 9:00am of the day turn ins are judged to accrue TOY points from that event. Teams cannot accrue points during any lapsed membership period. Teams can start to accrue TOY points again upon renewal of membership status.
a. All teams are responsible for insuring their team name matches exactly between the MABA Membership roster and that of the KCBS Membership roster as well as at the event with the Contest Reps. Failure to do so will result in a team failing to receive points earned at a contest. The ToY Coordinator is not responsible for correcting a team’s failure to insure their team info is correct in both systems. Teams have until May 15 of that year to compare and insure their team name matches exactly.
b. If one or more teammates are current MABA members but there is no team affiliation documented in the membership database, then their team cannot accrue points no matter how well they have competed. This will not be adjusted retroactively.
c. MABA members may cook on more than one team throughout the course of a season. It is the responsibility of a noted team that places in the TOY standings to determine their teammates when representing MABA in any national competition, demonstration or exposition.
d. Only valid teams that have earned the top TOY standings will be officially recognized in writing by the MABA board of Directors for representing MABA in any national events or promotions. Any recognition declared or made without the written consent of the MABA Board of Directors will result in that team’s name, and any MABA member documented to be affiliated with that team, shall be banned from any MABA TOY standings for one year.
VII. Teams may not accrue TOY points for multiple events on the same contest date. A Contest date is determined by the first day that turns in are judged. If it is determined that a team has accrued points from multiple events on the same contest date all points accrued on those dates shall be forfeit and a penalty of 50 (fifty) ToY points overall and across all categories or the team’s total points accrued (whichever is less) shall be assessed. A second violation of this rule within the same competition year will result in a 2 year suspension from MABA ToY of the team, chief cook.
VIII. Tie Breaker: In the event of a tie the following tie breaking procedure will be used:
a. 1st tie breaker – The team with the greater number of 1st place finishes in that category
b. 2nd tie breaker – The team with the greater number of 2nd place finishes in that category
c. 3rd tie breaker – The team with the greater number of 3rd place finishes in that category
d. If no resolution after the above tie breakers a coin flip will determine the outcome.
Comments Off on Twenty-Five Contest Giveaways, Dozens of Prizes, and Two Great Smokers To Be Raffled Off at the MABA Annual Meeting March 11, 2017
That’s right – We’re giving away more contests, prizes, and smokers at the MABA Annual Meeting than ever before! MABA members can attend for FREE and their guests are only $10 per person.
To win the contest entries and other various prizes, you must attend the MABA Annual Meeting to win. However, we will be selling online raffle tickets for the separate drawing of not one, but TWO cookers this year and you don’t have to be present to win one of those!
Please note that with the new venue we have to have an accurate count for food and beverage! So, please register for the annual meeting here. Guest tickets can also be purchased at that link. Only pre-registered MABA members and their paid guests may attend the annual meeting.
You’ll also not want to miss the announcement of new board members elected by you, the members of MABA. We’ll also be giving away awards for the Team of Year chase. You won’t want to miss seeing who finished in the top ten in each category and overall!
Contests that have confirmed they will be donating an entry to raffle off at the 2017 MABA Annual Meeting! Please support these generous organizers and if you see them out there this year, please thank them for supporting MABA!
VIRGINIA
BBQ Gives Back – Urbanna, VA
BBQ Jamboree – Fredericksburg, VA
Chillin & Grillin In The Glades – Wise, VA
13th Annual Recovery Fest/8th Annual BBQ State Championship – Richmond, VA
Que & Cruz – Louisa, VA ($150 credit toward entry)
Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition – New Castle, DE
Boo-B-Que – Rehobeth Beach, DE
NEW JERSEY
Que by the Sea – Seaside Heights, NJ
Red, White and Que – Cresskill, NJ
NEW YORK
NYC BBQ Cookoff – Staten Island, NY
Salt City BBQ Festival – Syracuse, NY
Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke – Geneva, NY
WEST VIRGINIA
Almost Heaven BBQ Bash – Weston, WV
PENNSYLVANIA
The Ironman – Greencastle, PA
Smoke in the Grove – Spring Grove, PA
NORTH CAROLINA
21st Annual Fire House BBQ Cook-Off – Kings Mountain, NC
Jiggy With the Piggy – Kannapolis, NC
Kings of Q BBQ cook off and Festival – Ayden, NC
Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic – Salisbury, NC
Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge – Newton, NC
Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down – Rocky Mount, NC
Comments Off on MABA Board Nominees/Register for the Annual Meeting
MABA Board Nominees, Still Time to Be Considered!
Thanks to the following list of Mid Atlantic Barbecue Association members who have thrown their hat in the ring and agreed to run for a MABA Board of Directors position! If you’re on the fence, or know someone who would make a great candidate to continue to move the association forward, there’s still time!
Nominations must be submitted before midnight on January 22, 2017 for consideration in this year’s election. Please email nominations to elections@mabbqa.com.
Bios and interview questions from each nominee will be sent out to all MABA members after the nomination process is over and we confirm all of the candidates.
Megan Ferguson
Tracy Hixon
Mark Kenney
John Kirby
Amy Overbey
David Pavone
Chris Safley
Todd Spickler
2017 Annual Meeting Registration Now Open
Join us on March 11th for the Mid-Atlantic Barbecue Association’s Annual Meeting, Awards, and Elections! Register today! Hang out with your fellow MABA friends and find out who was voted to the 2017 Board of Directors, what teams won MABA ToY awards, and take your chances at winning numerous BBQ related prizes, including competition entries, in the raffle. Raffle tickets will be sold at the meeting. You must be present to win.
Stay tuned for more details about raffle prizes as well as information about the hotel block. Also, follow MABA’s Facebook page and www.mabbqa.com for updated information as it becomes available.
Registration required for ALL attendees. Please register as soon as possible so we can get an approximate headcount. Members attend for free. Guests are just $10. Click here to register.
Comments Off on 2017 Annual Meeting Registration Now Open
Join us on March 11th for the Mid-Atlantic Barbecue Association’s Annual Meeting, Awards, and Elections! Register today! Hang out with your fellow MABA friends and find out who was voted to the 2017 Board of Directors, what teams won MABA ToY awards, and take your chances at winning numerous BBQ related prizes, including competition entries, in the raffle. Raffle tickets will be sold at the meeting. You must be present to win.
Stay tuned for more details about raffle prizes as well as information about the hotel block. Also, follow MABA’s Facebook page and www.mabbqa.com for updated information as it becomes available.
Registration required for ALL attendees. Please register as soon as possible so we can get an approximate headcount. Members attend for free. Guests are just $10. Click here to register.
by Stephanie West, “The Neck” Pitmaster with 270 SMOKERS
Fifty-six pro BBQ teams arrived in Shelby for the 25th Annual (and final…) Hog Happnin’. That’s right, Jerry & Joyce have decided to go out on a high note, while the Hog Happnin’ event has emerged to be one of North Carolina (and MABA-land) favorites! This year’s event was a true celebration of their team’s tremendous work to raise over $250,000 for the local children’s home charity. (Please note, if you’d like to purchase a commemorative item, contact the Hog Happnin’ organization thru their Facebook page – they recently published a cookbook ($12) and also have sweatshirts, pins, hats, etc. – all proceeds go to the children’s home.)
One of the more popular activities during Hog Happnin’ is the Simply Samplin’ competition where participating teams engage with the judges on Friday evening for on-site judging of their desserts, gumbo/stew, seafood, pizza, vegetables, and meat. Whew! This year, the crowd favorite proved to be 7-year old Kenzie Fink of team House of Smoke who captured 1st Place in Dessert with her Salted Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecakes! She is now completely hooked on competitive cooking and will surely become a staple on the ancillary circuit!
Grand Champion: Rocky Top Barbecue
Reserve GC: Sauced! Barbecue Team (who also won People’s Choice Pork!)
1st Place Chicken: Wolf’s Revenge
1st Place Ribs: Rocky Top Barbeque
1st Place Pork: Smoking Butt Heads
1st Place Brisket: Sauced! Barbecue Team
Comments Off on Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA
by Brian Walrath, MABA Board Member and Pitmaster for Brown Liquor BBQ
Luke and Leigh Anne of Sweet Tea Blues along with Rolfe jam out at the afterparty!
Autumnfest in Woodstock, Virginia is sort of the unofficial last barbecue competition for many in the Mid-Atlantic region. Because of this, it’s become a tradition that there’s a gathering of teams for a potluck end of the year soiree to close out the season on Saturday night after awards! This year would be no different, except that we would dedicate this party to celebrate Jerry and Mary Dyer of JD’s Smokin Misfits’ barbecue career! What began in the early 80s as a way to relax, ended at Woodstock as Jerry and Mary will turn the team over to their daughter Tracy next year. Oh, they’ll still be around though. Jerry assured me we’ll still see his smiling face and probably even have some “Jerry Juice” in tow!
Team set up on the track in Woodstock with the mountain in the background!
Woodstock is pretty well known for having some turbulent weather. Cold temps and wind are the norm. But, the barbecue gods threw us a softball this weekend, perhaps showing mercy on us for a year of bad winds, snow, rain, and intense heat! Temperatures were in the high 60s to mid 70s all weekend with just slightly chilly, but comfortable temps at night.
Jerry Dyer hosts the good luck MABA shot!
The track at Woodstock, a hot bed for harness horse racing, underwent massive improvements and all the teams were back on the track, but much closer to each other, making it nice to visit and chat with friends throughout the weekend. About a third of the competitors participated in a well run People’s Choice event and the great weather brought out droves of fair goers who enjoyed the many crafters, wineries, and breweries present. All in all, a great event, and weekend!
Ok, now for the all important results!
First place winners:
Chicken – Team Meat Coma
Ribs –Sauce This BBQ
Pork –Sauce This BBQ
Brisket –Rockin Robyns BBQ
Grand Champion – 3 Eyz BBQ
Reserve Grand Champion – Sauce This BBQ
Comments Off on Interview With the Champs – Redneck Scientific
by Brian Walrath, MABA Board Member and Pitmaster for Brown Liquor BBQ
In case you’ve been under a rock for the last two years, perhaps you haven’t noticed the incredible run that team Redneck Scientific is on. From Clayton, North Carolina and led by Pitmaster Jerry Stephenson, the pride of Johnston County has 10…yes, 10 grand championship in 2016 alone! Along with his usual sidekick, sister Roxanne, you’ll see Redneck Scientific not only high on the MABA TOY points standings, but they’re right up there in the KCBS TOY standings too. And if all this wasn’t enough, Jerry has a huge new project in the works soon to debut…check it all out in this month’s Interview With the Champs!
Question:
Wow, 10 GCs in 2016. Can you point to one or two things that have been the difference this year or is it a combination of things?
Jerry Stephenson, Redneck Scientific:
I think the key to this year’s successes has been we’ve kept it really simple which has led us to be more consistent and make less mistakes than others. Also, I think we’ve worked out a flavor profile that’s appealing to judges and not something generic that has been replicated, bartered or stolen by others.
But, the most compelling reason we are doing so well this season is I have a Roxanne. And no one else does.
Q:
You’re right there in the hunt for KCBS Team of the Year, currently in second place and within striking distance. Was chasing KCBS TOY one of the goals for this season?
JS, RS:
Third place actually as of today. And, no, chasing TOY was not a goal for us this year. We were gearing towards it in the future but this year is just kind of happened.
Q:
Will you keep up the rigorous schedule to try to secure the TOY win?
JS, RS:
We plan on finishing out the NC contests, The Jack and both the American Royal Invitational/Open. After that, I think we just shut it down. We’re short on TOY points due to the local NC/SC/VA contests not being full of cook teams like they have in the past. I’m not inclined to go chasing contests all over the nation with 35 or more teams to try to get max points either. In the end, this is a money game played by folks with a lot more money and time than I have at this moment. Maybe in the future we will be able to afford it to make a dedicated run at the KCBS TOY title. But, not right now.
Q:
Congratulations on qualifying for “The Jack.” Will you also be heading to Kansas City this year for “The Royal?”
JS, RS:
Ironically, yes. The draw for the Jack was the factor in making our decision to go back to the Royal again this year. We’ve been the past 3 years and a good friend of mine was going there for his first time and wanted us to go with him. I told him the only way we would be going this year, because of all the stuff we have going on, is if we got the Jack draw. Which we finally did after 4 years of being eligible.
I really think he paid someone off to make that happen too!
Q:
Recently you released some big news…can you tell us more about it here?
JS, RS: Yep. We’re doing exactly what I’ve said I would never do and are opening up a BBQ restaurant in Johnston County NC off of Interstate 40 at exit 319. We will be using our Backwoods Smokers to cook the meat (first and only ones in NC) and will be putting out a daily limited supply of a competition style product not currently being done in our area. We will serve until we run out of food each day. The name of the restaurant will be “The Redneck BBQ Lab”.
Q:
You’re heavily involved in Operation Barbecue Relief. Can you tell us more about your involvement and how the rest of the barbecue community can help?
JS, RS: OBR’s mission statement (“provides compassion, offers hope and friendship to those whose lives have been affected by disasters across the United States.”) shares a core philosophy of mine that food is a critical means to convey caring to people whether they are in need or just feel like they want to give something back to someone.
All it takes to give is time and/or money. Both of which we all have a bit of. You can find out more about this at: https://operationbbqrelief.org/.
Q:
Tell our readers about your team name, set up, and teammates.
JS, RS: Redneck Scientific was formed in late 2011 as a smoker building company that ended up doing one KCBS competition that year. We’ve been competing now for 5 years. In that span of time, we have done 93 contests, won 18 Grand Championships, had 6 Reserve Grand Championships, had over 250 top ten calls, 3 MABA Cup wins in NC and 8 perfect 180 scores.
We cook out of a unique custom 20-foot trailer that was built out and designed by us. We cook on a Backwoods Smoker (Pro Junior). We are sponsored by Royal Oak charcoal, BBQ Guru, Mojobricks, Oakridge BBQ rubs and Q Company Backwoods Smokers.
Our team consists of my wife (Liz), Brother in Law (Sean Manley aka “The Guv”), my 2 daughters (Fiona & Elle), my sister (Roxanne) and myself.
Q:
Ok, I always ask our winning pitmasters this…what’s the one tip you have for those teams to help them break through and win their first GC or up their game in competition BBQ?
JS, RS: Treat this game like baseball. Concentrate on hitting 4 singles and you’ll become a better team in the Overall standings…where it matters the most.
Q:
Any other goals for the remainder of 2016 or looking forward?
JS, RS: Probably just finishing all of the things on my plate would be beyond comprehension to me right now! I’m doubting I can fit any other goals in unless we…
Q:
Anything else to add before we sign off?
JS, RS: Yes. I forgot to note that our winning percentage has gone up 300% since attending Cook’s Church at our BBQ contests. Could be a coincidence but why take a chance? Attend one if you get a chance!
There is no doubt that politics are in the forefront of the American media. It is a big time for decision making as we choose our nation’s next leader. One of the great things about our country is this ability to have our voice heard through our vote. Within that spectrum is also the ability to have varying degrees of interest of involvement either passive or aggressive and many levels in-between.
If you are reading this, you have a passion for competitive BBQ. Whether you compete just a few times a year or are highly invested and on the road over 20 times a season, we each rely on organizations and rule making bodies to set the boundaries for our “play”. As humans we crave structure. It lets us know what to expect, when to expect it, and defines success.
Success can be defined several different ways by many in our sport. For some it’s about a great weekend with friends/family and marked improvement in scoring. For others its top 5’s or calls for GC or RGC. Neither is wrong and is truly defined in the eye of the beholder. The success and health of our sport relies on all of us. Elected leaders who give time and energy back to competitive BBQ through organizations like MABA and KCBS are vital to that success.
With a current call for nominations for KCBS and the election beginning on January 2 we should all get involved. It is the time for our voice to be heard. The elected officials should represent what you feel is best for the organization. Officials within each organization that represent BBQ like KCBS and MABA are accessible. They want to hear your thoughts. The reason they are in these positions is to better the sport. Whatever your style, passive or aggressive, you can make a difference and continue the success of this great world of competitive BBQ.
The first cooker is a Gateway Drum Smoker®, courtesy of Stone BBQ Supply.
