Regional High School BBQ competition to return to Graham downtown square
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(MIKE WILLIAMS | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Smokin’ Steers BBQ coach Brendan Locker guides Landan Locker and Diego Arvizu as the team prepares to turn in ribs during last year’s High School BBQ regional cook-off on the Downtown Square. This weekend, 15 schools will compete for scholarship money and a trip to the state cook-off in April.
The smells of barbecue will fill the air on the Downtown Square this weekend as Graham High School hosts the first regional competition of the Texas High School BBQ season. Over 50 students representing 15 schools will line the square competing for scholarship money and an opportunity to cook at the High School BBQ, Inc. State Championship in April 2022.
Teams will arrive in Graham and start setup Friday afternoon around 3 p.m. The day will start earlier for Smokin’ Steers BBQ as the host team.
“Come Friday, I’m getting the kids blue slips, we are going to pick up the meat for the competition, because the host team provides everything,” Smokin’ Steers BBQ Brendan Locker said. “I’m going to run the team through a full butcher shop. I have a buddy that runs Red Barn Butchers in (Wichita Falls), he’s donating everything. He’s going to give them, from top to bottom, how everything is broken down.”
All 15 teams will meet at 7 p.m. Friday for a cooks meeting to go over the rules of the event. Teams will light their fires at 5 a.m. Saturday morning followed by drawing their selection numbers. Teams will select their meats at 6 a.m. Students prepare foods in five categories: brisket, chicken, ribs, beans and dessert. Coaches are not allowed in the cooking area after 6 a.m. They are allowed to coach from outside of the area.
For the rest of the story, see the Nov. 10 edition of The Graham Leader.
