Smithfield Unveils the Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship

Ready to put your competition BBQ skills to the test against the best-of-the-best AND get a shot at cash and prizes worth up to $50,000?

If so, the fine folks at Smithfield recently unveiled their new program, the Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship! The announcement was made by Smithfield’s Marketing Director, Emily Detwiler, at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue alongside brand ambassador’s Melissa Cookston, Sterling Ball, Darren Warth, Tuffy Stone, Chris Lilly, and Ernest Servantes.

This competition will show you where you rank against all competition barbecue teams across the country. The cup has two parts: a year-long points chase and a playoff between the top 24 teams from across the country to name one unified National Champion and the chance to win up to $50,000 cash.

In partnership with a neutral third party, BBQData.com, Smithfield has created a points system to rank competition barbecue teams, regardless of major sanctioning body. If you compete in any barbecue competitions sanctioned by Kansas City Barbecue Society, International Barbecue Cookers Association or Florida BBQ Association between the dates of September 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019, you are eligible to earn points in the points chase.

How it works:

• Teams can register at SmokinWithSmithfield.com to earn points for competing in barbecue contests sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, International Barbecue Cookers Association, or Florida BBQ Association.
• The top 24 teams will be determined based on their total points/final scores, and face-off in a three-round, single elimination playoff contest in New Orleans at the end of 2019.
• The 12 winning teams will then move on to the semi-finals, and in the final round, the remaining 6 teams will go head-to-head for the ultimate title of Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Champion.

Beginning in January 2019, you can visit SmokinWithSmithfield.com to view the leaderboard and find out where you rank among all teams across the country!

Also be sure to check out our award winning recipes from the country’s top competition BBQ teams including a Competition Chicken Recipe, Competition Ribs Recipe, Competition Pulled Pork Recipe, and Competition Brisket Recipe!

UPDATE: Rio Valley Meat BBQ Crowned First-Ever Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Champion

Smithfield® congratulates Fred Robles and Rio Valley Meat BBQ on taking home the coveted title of National Barbecue Champion at the inaugural Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship at NOLA Motorsports Park this past weekend. In addition to earning the top prize, Rio Valley Meat BBQ had an impressive performance throughout the exciting three-round, single-elimination competition, winning Overall Grand Champion of round two and Overall Reserve Grand Champion of round one, as well as placing first in Smithfield Fresh Pork Ribs all three rounds. Smithfield also congratulates Buckshot BBQ for taking home the Overall Reserve Grand Champion title, as well as Iowa Smokey D’s BBQ, Cajun Blaze, Shake ‘n Bake BBQ, and Heavy Smoke for rounding out the six finalists.

“This weekend, we were up against some of the most talented cook teams from across the country and around the world, so it was pretty special just to compete here,” said Fred Robles. “This three-day competition was a grind, but it is truly unlike any other competition on the barbecue circuit. We couldn’t be more honored to be named the first unified National Barbecue Champion.”

“We’re so excited to celebrate the pitmasters and cook teams that share in our passion for barbecue,” said Laura Pall, brand manager for Smithfield Foods. “Congratulations to Fred and Rio Valley Meat BBQ on their incredible win, as well as all 24 playoff teams for putting out some of the best barbecue we’ve ever seen. We also want to give a huge thank you to our sponsors, Big Poppa Smokers, Kingsford, The Butcher Shoppe, YETI, Abita Brewing Company, and WhistlePig, for helping to make this event happen.”

Smithfield is proud to continue their investment in the sport of barbecue, and will once again roll out the Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant and Committed Cooks programs in 2020. The Smokin’ With Smithfield Grant Program, created in 2017, supports sanctioned barbecue competitions and events across the country by deepening the prize pool in overall and major meat categories. The Smokin’ With Smithfield Committed Cooks program, established in 2016, rewards teams who cook with Smithfield Fresh Pork products and serve as brand ambassadors during competitions.

For more information on the Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship, and to apply for the 2020 Grant or Committed Cooks programs, please visit www.SmokinWithSmithfield.com.