The Second Annual John C. Fremont Days Backyard BBQ Competition was conducted Saturday in the LA Fireproof Door Co. beer garden.
Contestants participated in three categories, including ribs, chicken drumsticks and meatloaf. JCF Board President Barry Reker expressed his gratitude to Wholestone Farms, Lincoln Premium Poultry, Fremont Meat Market, Baker’s, Sapp Brothers Petroleum, Fremont Downtown Business Improvement District, LA Fireproof Door Co. and Larry and Adam Shepard for sponsoring the event.
The event grew from nine teams in 2022 to 17 this year. Two teams, however, were unable to participate due to health and family reasons. The 15 teams competed for various prizes, including $750 for first place overall, $400 for second and $300 for third. Participants could also win $150 for the best in each category as well as the people’s choice in each.
JCF Days BBQ Committee members Daniel Cech and Tom Wiesen were assisted by Ashley Sandbulte of the South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska BBQ Association. Sandbulte also signed the JCF Days competition up for findbbqcomps.com.
Back Draft BBQ was the overall winner while RTG Medical was second. Big Bears BBQ placed third.
In the Meatloaf category, Back Draft took top honors followed by Smoking Bears and RTG. For ribs, RTG earned top honors while Back Draft was runner-up. Third place went to That One Guys BBQ. Happy Grillmore won for chicken while Back Draft was second. Sweat & Swine placed third.
Night of the Smoking Dead won the people’s choice award in all three categories.
Reker said officials hope to continue to grow the event, but they also want to keep it a non-sanctioned BBQ competition.
