The Judge tent at Smokin' in the Grass
WATERLOO, IA (August 13th, 2022) - Great news! Cindy Wells, a well-respected BBQ contest organizer in Iowa, has created a new backyard contest located at the Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens in Waterloo, Iowa (a short distance from Cedar Falls). It's called "Smokin' in the Grass," but this place isn't just all grass.
There is 40 acres of eye catching beauty with flowers, trees, gardens and creative sculptures. What does all this have to do with BBQ? Nothing, unless we can find some kale, lettuce, parsley or cilantro growing here. Wait! This is a NO GARNISH contest. Never mind. The Arboretum is just one gorgeous, serene place to have a BBQ contest.
There is 40 acres of eye catching beauty with flowers, trees, gardens and creative sculptures. What does all this have to do with BBQ? Nothing, unless we can find some kale, lettuce, parsley or cilantro growing here. Wait! This is a NO GARNISH contest. Never mind. The Arboretum is just one gorgeous, serene place to have a BBQ contest.
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Normally when I arrive at a BBQ contest, I am either going to cook or judge. Not this time. I strictly came up here to hang out with the cooks, judges and staff to do a story on BBQ Critic. When I heard Cindy was heading up this contest, I wanted to be there. It turned out to be a lot of fun.
The cooks were generous with letting me try samples of their contest meat (which allowed me to give them feedback from a judge perspective), and I even snagged some food photos to share. Having the freedom and time to interact with the teams and judges made this contest extra fun. I think I need to do this more often.
I met up with some of the seasoned teams like LTS BBQ, 1 Case BBQ, 2 Case BBQ, and 225 Mafia BBQ. My eyes saw a lot of delicious looking BBQ cook'n in those smokers. It was fun to meet up with teams who I normally do not see at contests like 2Sauce2Pork BBQ, Limp Brisket, Second Hand Smoke, BBQ Pit Bros, Kolder Q, Bone Out BBQ and others.
2Sauce2Pork BBQ was using a portable GMG Trek Prime Pellet Grill for their chicken, the same smoker I bought from The Grill Works in Marion, Iowa. I love that little smoker!
2Sauce2Pork BBQ was using a portable GMG Trek Prime Pellet Grill for their chicken, the same smoker I bought from The Grill Works in Marion, Iowa. I love that little smoker!
2SAUCE2PORK BBQ cooking chicken on a GMG Trek Prime portable pellet grill. This smoker is BBQ Critic Approved!
All teams focused on smoking up their ribs and chicken. This is a two-meat contest, which is nice. Involves less cooking time and no worries about pork and brisket turn-ins. Close to turn in time, I walked around and sampled meats from various teams. When I tasted ribs and gave feedback to a cook, one newer team comes to mind: Bone Out BBQ.
Tim Cary, Bone Out BBQ head cook, walked over to give me a sample of his ribs. He gave it to me cautiously warning it was a bit salty. Yep! That bone was a pillar of salt! Tim walked away kind of depressed because he was not happy with his cook.
During the awards ceremony I was listening to the rib calls. Guess who got 4th in Ribs (out of 16 teams competing)? Yup - Bone Out BBQ. I was shocked and asked Tim how he pulled this off. The ribs he turned in simply came from a different rack, which he could not taste because he had to turn in all the bones. What a fantastic surprise.
Tim Cary, Bone Out BBQ head cook, walked over to give me a sample of his ribs. He gave it to me cautiously warning it was a bit salty. Yep! That bone was a pillar of salt! Tim walked away kind of depressed because he was not happy with his cook.
During the awards ceremony I was listening to the rib calls. Guess who got 4th in Ribs (out of 16 teams competing)? Yup - Bone Out BBQ. I was shocked and asked Tim how he pulled this off. The ribs he turned in simply came from a different rack, which he could not taste because he had to turn in all the bones. What a fantastic surprise.
Photo Courtesy, Candid Photography (Waterloo, IA)
BONE OUT BBQ winning 4th place in RIBS
Years ago when I was cooking with Bubba-Q's (Ottumwa, IA) on the competition circuit, he would smoke up three racks of ribs and we were always amazed at how each slab had its own unique flavor and tenderness. You have be real careful when choosing what meats will go in your turn in box. Tim made the right choice, but he still felt bad about giving me that salty rib. So what does he do next?
The following week he invited me over to eat ribs with him and his son. I accepted and the ribs were very good. Tim also made a really delicious corn dish and a veggie/potato side. I think his rib recipe has great potential at his next competition.
The following week he invited me over to eat ribs with him and his son. I accepted and the ribs were very good. Tim also made a really delicious corn dish and a veggie/potato side. I think his rib recipe has great potential at his next competition.
 Excellent flavor profile on these ribs! |  This was a great tasting dinner. |
Awards are always exciting to watch. Congrats to all who got a call and everyone who competed: 2 Bald Guys grabbed the Grand Champion and 1 Case BBQ nailed the Reserve Grand. Smokin' Suckers 3rd, 2 Case 4th and 2Sauce2Pork BBQ in at 5th (that GMG Trek Prime treated this team well!).
TOP WINNERS
 GRAND CHAMPION - 2 BALD GUYS |  RESERVE GRAND - 1 CASE BBQ |
Brief Interview with 2 BALD GUYS BBQ
GRAND CHAMPION
Smokin' in the Grass 2022
Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (Cedar Falls, IA)
GRAND CHAMPION
Smokin' in the Grass 2022
Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (Cedar Falls, IA)
TOP 3 CHICKEN
1st Place Chicken - 1 CASE BBQ
 2nd Place Chicken - 2 CASE BBQ |  2 Place Chicken - 225 Mafia BBQ |
TOP 3 RIBS
1st Place Ribs - 2 BALD GUYS BBQ
 2nd Place Ribs - LTS BBQ |  3rd Place Ribs - SMOKIN' SUCKERS |
Smokin' in the Grass is the beginning of something great. Cooks appreciate the 100% KCBS Certified BBQ Judges in the tent. The contest will take place again next year on September 23, 2023. Now that's a date easy to remember and I encourage teams to put this date on their calendar.
Cindy Wells picked the perfect venue for a backyard BBQ contest. A tranquil gaze at the scenery provides a nice backdrop for cooks and judges. I will be back.
Cindy Wells picked the perfect venue for a backyard BBQ contest. A tranquil gaze at the scenery provides a nice backdrop for cooks and judges. I will be back.
- BBQ CRITIC
Final thoughts from Cindy Wells
Inside the BBQ Judge Tent
This contest is sanctioned by the Iowa BBQ Society with $2000 cash prizes.
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