WEST DES MOINES, IA (May 29, 2011) - It was this same time last year at Smokin' in the Junction I had the privilege to hang out briefly with Rod Anderson and his family from Buster Dog BBQ. I had no idea that Rod would pass away in less than a year battling cancer. Though Rod is gone, his spirit lives on in his wife Dawn, and son David.
Upon arriving at the contest site, Bubba Knapp (Bubba Q's) told me there was a team called Buster Doggle BBQ competing here. Buster Doggle? It almost sounded like Buster Dog BBQ crashed into a two-brother team called Boondoggle BBQ. Wait a minute. Could it be? Yep! They collided alright, but it was no accident.
Upon arriving at the contest site, Bubba Knapp (Bubba Q's) told me there was a team called Buster Doggle BBQ competing here. Buster Doggle? It almost sounded like Buster Dog BBQ crashed into a two-brother team called Boondoggle BBQ. Wait a minute. Could it be? Yep! They collided alright, but it was no accident.
Buster Doggle BBQ
Bob Denner, David Anderson, Dawn Anderson and Don Denner
Bob Denner, David Anderson, Dawn Anderson and Don Denner
I stopped by the teams BBQ camp to see how this all came about. A few months ago, Boondoggle's Don Denner attended Rod Anderson's tribute/fundraiser here in Iowa. He asked Dawn if it would be ok to have David cook and hang out with the team at Smokin' in the Junction in West Des Moines, Iowa. Dawn liked the idea and accepted the nice gesture.
As the event drew closer, Don decided to follow up with Dawn to make sure everything was still a go. Poor, Don. Instead of calling Dawn, they chose to phone text. Don recalls chuckling, “She wouldn't quit texting me while I was mowing the damn lawn. I had to stop the lawn mower about every ten feet because she kept texting me! I asked her since David is going to cook with us, would it be ok if we cook under the team name Buster Doggle BBQ. She came back with, 'Does that mean I get to cook chicken?' I said, hell yes! Let me talk to Bob about it.”
Brother Bob Denner responded with, “Oh, hell yeah - you betcha!”
Buster Doggle BBQ came together as a team and had a blast cooking together over the weekend. There were emotional times, too, as they remembered Rod. When awards time came, it was heart-tugging to watch them get calls. The team ended up winning 1st place in Ribs and 6th in Brisket. Oh, and the Chicken? It made the Top 10 and came in 7th.
As the event drew closer, Don decided to follow up with Dawn to make sure everything was still a go. Poor, Don. Instead of calling Dawn, they chose to phone text. Don recalls chuckling, “She wouldn't quit texting me while I was mowing the damn lawn. I had to stop the lawn mower about every ten feet because she kept texting me! I asked her since David is going to cook with us, would it be ok if we cook under the team name Buster Doggle BBQ. She came back with, 'Does that mean I get to cook chicken?' I said, hell yes! Let me talk to Bob about it.”
Brother Bob Denner responded with, “Oh, hell yeah - you betcha!”
Buster Doggle BBQ came together as a team and had a blast cooking together over the weekend. There were emotional times, too, as they remembered Rod. When awards time came, it was heart-tugging to watch them get calls. The team ended up winning 1st place in Ribs and 6th in Brisket. Oh, and the Chicken? It made the Top 10 and came in 7th.
Buster Doggle BBQ
Don Denner accepts trophy for 1st Place in Ribs
Don Denner accepts trophy for 1st Place in Ribs
Bob commented on Dawn's chicken, “It was moist, unlike ours [laughter]. I picked up a couple tips. I'm not gonna lie [laughter].” Dawn added, “It wasn't my best, but it turned out alright.”
Buster Doggle BBQ ended up 5th place overall out of 62 teams thanks to everyone's contributions. Bob said, "This doesn't have to be a one event thing. Dawn and David are welcome to join us any time.”
Buster Doggle BBQ ended up 5th place overall out of 62 teams thanks to everyone's contributions. Bob said, "This doesn't have to be a one event thing. Dawn and David are welcome to join us any time.”
Buster Doggle BBQ came together as a team
and had a blast cooking together over the weekend.
There were emotional times, too, as they remembered Rod.
and had a blast cooking together over the weekend.
There were emotional times, too, as they remembered Rod.
Rod Anderson was a true gentleman and a great BBQ cook. It was nice to see two other fine gentleman and talented competition cooks bring Dawn and David together again to compete in BBQ. It touched them deeply and touched the hearts of all the their fellow BBQ competitors on hand for the event.
I hope to see Buster Doggle BBQ compete together again in the near future. I'm sure Rod is looking down from Heaven and smiling on his BBQ family.
All of them.
– BBQ Critic
I hope to see Buster Doggle BBQ compete together again in the near future. I'm sure Rod is looking down from Heaven and smiling on his BBQ family.
All of them.
– BBQ Critic
Buster Dog BBQ
David, Dawn and Rod Anderson
Smokin' in the Junction 2010 - West Des Moines, Iowa
David, Dawn and Rod Anderson
Smokin' in the Junction 2010 - West Des Moines, Iowa
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