Italy Lions Club’s 2nd annual BBQ Cook-off was a tasty success!

Image: Three cheers for the Italy Lions Club!!! — Flossie Gowin, Kristi Souder and Meg Lyons are proud of the Italy Lions Club for having a successful 2nd annual BBQ Cook-off.

Three cheers for the Italy Lions Club!!! — Flossie Gowin, Kristi Souder and Meg Lyons are proud of the Italy Lions Club for having a successful 2nd annual BBQ Cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ribbon and a hug — Melissa Souder congratulates Jason Escamilla on his accomplishment during the BBQ cook-off awards presentation.

Ribbon and a hug — Melissa Souder congratulates Jason Escamilla on his accomplishment during the BBQ cook-off awards presentation. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kirk’s a cook — Kirk Strauch of Malone, Texas won 1st place in the Pork Butt category and 2nd place in the chicken category.

Kirk’s a cook — Kirk Strauch of Malone, Texas won 1st place in the Pork Butt category and 2nd place in the chicken category. (Barry Byers)

Image: Big winner — Brian Morgan of “Ain’t Got a Clue Bar-B-Que” holds little Austin Cate who had a big day winning a laptop during the raffle.

Big winner — Brian Morgan of “Ain’t Got a Clue Bar-B-Que” holds little Austin Cate who had a big day winning a laptop during the raffle. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gary wins 1st Place — Gary Wood from the IYAA team receives a 1st place trophy in the Brisket Category form Taylor Souder.

Gary wins 1st Place — Gary Wood from the IYAA team receives a 1st place trophy in the Brisket Category form Taylor Souder. (Barry Byers)

Image: Top cookers — Ross Strauch wins Reserve Grand Champion and Joe Jaska wins Grand Champion.

Top cookers — Ross Strauch wins Reserve Grand Champion and Joe Jaska wins Grand Champion. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Convicts — The Convicts consisting of Shawn Roberts, Omar Estrada and Peyton Day win Grand Champion in the Italy Lions Club’s Annual BBQ Cook-off. Presenting the award is Taylor Souder.

The Convicts — The Convicts consisting of Shawn Roberts, Omar Estrada and Peyton Day win Grand Champion in the Italy Lions Club’s Annual BBQ Cook-off. Presenting the award is Taylor Souder. (Barry Byers)

Image: James Hobbs — James Hobbs of Hobbs Feed & Supply in Italy wins 2nd place in the local BBQ competition during the Italy Lions Club’s 2nd Annual BBQ Cook-off.

James Hobbs — James Hobbs of Hobbs Feed & Supply in Italy wins 2nd place in the local BBQ competition during the Italy Lions Club’s 2nd Annual BBQ Cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: I heard that! — Another victim of “Darla Wood’s Noise Makers,” Hannah Washington realizes she is sitting on the wrong side of the grill.

I heard that! — Another victim of “Darla Wood’s Noise Makers,” Hannah Washington realizes she is sitting on the wrong side of the grill. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bryce helps out — Bryce DeBorde helps the IYAA team set up their tent during the cook-off.

Bryce helps out — Bryce DeBorde helps the IYAA team set up their tent during the cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: Royce Williams — Royce Williams, a former V.P. of the Lone Star BBQ Society, arranges his chickens on a 1976 Japanese grill that will cook the chickens in half the time that it takes american grills, claims Williams.

Royce Williams — Royce Williams, a former V.P. of the Lone Star BBQ Society, arranges his chickens on a 1976 Japanese grill that will cook the chickens in half the time that it takes american grills, claims Williams. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rick Moritz — Rick Moritz of Waxahachie, Texas heats up along with the competition.

Rick Moritz — Rick Moritz of Waxahachie, Texas heats up along with the competition. (Barry Byers)

Image: Waldo’s Smokehouse — “On Friday night we were all friends, sharing trade secrets and special mixes. On Saturday, nobody likes anybody,” laughed Gary Waldo of Waxahachie, Texas, and a member of the Lone Star BBQ Society,

Waldo’s Smokehouse — “On Friday night we were all friends, sharing trade secrets and special mixes. On Saturday, nobody likes anybody,” laughed Gary Waldo of Waxahachie, Texas, and a member of the Lone Star BBQ Society, (Barry Byers)

Image: Beans for breakfast — Nothing says good morning like “Darla’s Noise Makers” that won 1st place in the bean contest. Darla Wood serves husband Gary Wood and daughter Brooke DeBorde the breakfast of champions.

Beans for breakfast — Nothing says good morning like “Darla’s Noise Makers” that won 1st place in the bean contest. Darla Wood serves husband Gary Wood and daughter Brooke DeBorde the breakfast of champions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Time of their lives — Robert Sollers and Craig Bales were as happy as two judges in a BBQ Cook-off could be.

Time of their lives — Robert Sollers and Craig Bales were as happy as two judges in a BBQ Cook-off could be. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cowtown cooks — Jerry Huey and Roger Graves of Fort Worth, Texas enjoy the grill of competition!

Cowtown cooks — Jerry Huey and Roger Graves of Fort Worth, Texas enjoy the grill of competition! (Barry Byers)

Image: Texas ties — Daniel Smith of Bynum, Texas, Cindy and Kirk Strauch of Malone, Texas, Chris Englehardt of Hubbard, Texas and Bekah and Melanie of Bynum, Texas teamed during the Italy Lions Club 2nd Annual Cook-off.

Texas ties — Daniel Smith of Bynum, Texas, Cindy and Kirk Strauch of Malone, Texas, Chris Englehardt of Hubbard, Texas and Bekah and Melanie of Bynum, Texas teamed during the Italy Lions Club 2nd Annual Cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: Patriot 29 — Members of the Patriot 29 BBQ team from both Red Oak and Cedar Creek, Texas are: Back row*: Donnie Mrozinski, Chris Futrell and Danny Roland. Front row: Josh Mrozinski and Ben Leath. The name Patriot 29 is in memory of fallen soldier Ryan Patrick Green, Roland’s cousin. The Patriot 29 Troop Support Fund is a 501©(3) non-profit corporation. Visit the Patriot 29 website and Email:patriot29fund@gmail.com to get involved.

Patriot 29 — Members of the Patriot 29 BBQ team from both Red Oak and Cedar Creek, Texas are: Back row*: Donnie Mrozinski, Chris Futrell and Danny Roland. Front row: Josh Mrozinski and Ben Leath. The name Patriot 29 is in memory of fallen soldier Ryan Patrick Green, Roland’s cousin. The Patriot 29 Troop Support Fund is a 501©(3) non-profit corporation. Visit the Patriot 29 website and Email:[email protected] to get involved. (Barry Byers)

Image: Donnie delivers — Donnie Mrozinski of the Patriot 29 team displays his amazing pork spare ribs.

Donnie delivers — Donnie Mrozinski of the Patriot 29 team displays his amazing pork spare ribs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ain’t got a Clue? — Italy’s Brian and Darla Morgan of Ain’t Got a Clue BBQ get ’er done on the grill.

Ain’t got a Clue? — Italy’s Brian and Darla Morgan of Ain’t Got a Clue BBQ get ’er done on the grill. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Escamilla’s — The Escamila family of Italy, also known as the Cactus Rose Cooking Team.

The Escamilla’s — The Escamila family of Italy, also known as the Cactus Rose Cooking Team. (Barry Byers)

Image: It’s our, “Day!” — Cindy Reed displays the traveling Grand Championship trophy (Local winners only) that was won by Danny Day and his team called the Outlaws during the 1st Annual Italy Lions Club cook-off. Danny’s son Peyton Day, and his cooking team called the Convicts, won the trophy this year. Good luck to Danny Day who is currently running for the Italy School Board.

It’s our, “Day!” — Cindy Reed displays the traveling Grand Championship trophy (Local winners only) that was won by Danny Day and his team called the Outlaws during the 1st Annual Italy Lions Club cook-off. Danny’s son Peyton Day, and his cooking team called the Convicts, won the trophy this year. Good luck to Danny Day who is currently running for the Italy School Board. (Barry Byers)

Image: Now that’s a grill! — Joey Jaska and Jessica Barber from Penelope, Texas know how to, “Burn ’em and Turn ’em.”

Now that’s a grill! — Joey Jaska and Jessica Barber from Penelope, Texas know how to, “Burn ’em and Turn ’em.” (Barry Byers)

Image: We love BBQ! — Taylor Souder gives Italy Lion Club’s President Arval Gowin a hug before the awards are passed around during the club’s 2nd Anuual Cook-off held in Italy.

We love BBQ! — Taylor Souder gives Italy Lion Club’s President Arval Gowin a hug before the awards are passed around during the club’s 2nd Anuual Cook-off held in Italy. (Barry Byers)

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