PHOTO STORY: Pitmasters fire up fun at annual Dowagiac BBQ Competition

Published 4:46 pm Monday, July 22, 2024

By Max Harden

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DOWAGIAC — 26 pitmasters from across the country descended on downtown Dowagiac Saturday to compete for top honors in its second annual Dowagiac BBQ Competition.

When the charcoal settled, Brian Calhoun of Grace Lake. Ill. took home Grand Champion honors as Weez’s Groovin’ BBQ after earning fourth and second places in both the chicken and rib categories. Cameron McKee’s Skinny Pig BBQ of South Beloit, Ill. earned Reserve Grand Champion with 11th and first place finishes in chicken and ribs respectively. Lisa Larson and Jamie Jackson of Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que placed first in chicken and sixth overall.

“I’m stoked,” McKee said. “To not even get a top 10 and to be considered for Reserve, it’s insane. I just had a really high rib score and then I had 11 for chicken. I’m blown away.”

The competition was sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society – the largest competitive barbecue organization in the world. The event brought 26 pitmasters, 26 judges and enthusiasts from all over the country to downtown Dowagiac.

The competition was fierce, with KCBS-certified BBQ judges judging the meats based on KCBS standards. The win was a pleasant surprise for McKee, who personally felt his chicken turned out better than his ribs.

“When they called chicken and I wasn’t even in the top ten, I’m like ‘well, there goes the day,’” he said. I’ve been fifth place in chicken three times in a row and I just can’t seal the deal. My ribs have been all over the place so I kept adjusting slightly and today I decided to do what I usually do on chicken and then just wing it on ribs.”

McKee said he has participated in 10 BBQ competitions and feels he has improved with every contest.

“I’ve come a long way,” he said. “Last year I didn’t even get a single call. This is the first year I’ve gotten a call and now I’ve got a call in every single contest I’ve been to.”

Michael and Carol Eckes, of Heartland, Wisconsin placed six overall as Wapatui Smokers, placing second overall in chicken and 13th in ribs. The couple began barbecuing two years ago and started competing last year.

“After a year, it was like ‘I wonder how good my ribs are compared to other people,” Michael said. “I started messing around on the patio and started competing and then we started learning things and getting good and just doing it on the weekends. It’s a good time, lots of nice, friendly, people and you learn a lot.”

For Michael and other competitors, friendships are one of the highlights of contests.

“It’s like one big family,” Michael said. “They want to help you and they want you to be better. We were so new a year ago, we didn’t know anything and they’ll tell you exactly what they do and to try new things to improve your skills.”

“It’s a really nice community, it’s like a Brotherhood,” Larson said. “Everyone is nice and very friendly. Everyone helps each other.”

McKee and several other groups came away impressed with Dowagiac’s festival and look to return in the future.

“I’ve been to contests where they won’t even bring out an ash bucket, no grease bucket or garbage, so they do a really good job here,” McKee said. “You can tell they have people that have been around barbecue before organizing it.”

“It’s such a charming downtown,” Larson said. “I love the old buildings, so many towns tear them down. It’s very cute, has a very good setup and is nicely organized.”

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