Last Friday and Saturday the Upchurch Ball Park was overflowing with BBQ grills, RV’s and people galore. It was the Italy Lions Club’s third annual BBQ cook-off. They had the biggest turn out of cookers this time – they had fourty-four cookers.

The contestants came from all over Texas and some even came from as far away as Oklahoma! Don, representing the Dallas Fire Department was there and said, “I have been out here cooking since Friday night. We couldn’t have this cook off with out the Dallas Fire Department making an appearance! The name of our team is ‘The Smoking Fire House.’ And our food is just dog-gone good.”

We can’t forget the judges. Now, it really is a hard job—after all you have to taste all the delicious food that was cooked and make a decision on the one you liked best. I asked Nora Brashear (one of the judges) how could you distinguish the difference in taste after tasting so many at a time and she explained, “Eat a little bit at a time and eat a pickle or a cracker in-between each taste and then drink water to cleanse your pallet. That way each time you take another bite it is like your first one.”

The contestants that placed first, second and third won money prizes and plaques. The Lions club made approximately $750.00 to $1000.00 off the sale of raffle tickets and food.

The winners were:

The Grand Champion was Jason Hildago
Reserve Champion was John Zabojnik

Top Ten Winners in the Brisket category:

First Place – Donnie Glatter
Second Place – Terry Bowling
Third Place – Troy King
Fourth Place – Kevin Riley
Fifth Place – Jason Hildago
Sixth Place – David Patak
Seventh Place – Woody Woodson
Eighth Place – Robbie Hixson
Ninth Place – Randy Brumbelow
Tenth Place – Billy Overton

Top Ten Winners in the Pork Spare Ribs category:

First Place – John Zabojnik
Second Place – Tommy Roberts
Third Place – Scott Parks
Fourth Place – George Taylor
Fifth Place – Billy Overton
Sixth Place – Charlie Bateman
Seventh Place – Gary Woods
Eighth Place – Rick Carter
Ninth Place – Rodney Dickerson
Tenth Place – Aaron Byrd

Top Ten Winners in the Chicken category:

First Place – Doug Beaty
Second Place – John Zabojnik
Third Place – Jeff Alexander
Fourth Place – Don Felts
Fifth Place – Misty Overton
Sixth Place George Taylor
Seventh Place – Rick Carter
Eighth Place – Terry Phillips
Ninth Place – David Patak
Tenth Place – Randy Brumbelow

Top Ten Winners in the Pork Butt category:

First Place – Phillip Lujan
Second Place – John Zabojnik
Third Place – Larry Ewing
Fourth Place – Aaron Byrd
Fifth Place – Jason Hildago
Sixth Place – Randy Brumbelow
Seventh Place – Donnie Glatter
Eighth Place – Amber King
Ninth Place – Ed Hall
Tenth Place – Roy King

Top Ten Winners in the Beans category:

First Place – Doug Beaty
Second Place – John Zabojnik
Third Place – Jeff Alexander
Fourth Place – Don Felts
Fifth Place – Misty Overton
Sixth Place – George Taylor
Seventh Place – Rick Carter
Eighth Place – Terry Phillips
Ninth Place – David Patak
Tenth Place – Randy Brumbelow

Arvil Gowin (president of the Italy Lions Club) wanted to say, “The italy Lions Club wishes to thank all of the sponsors and the community for whom their support the cook-off wouldn’t have been such a success. This was our biggest and best cook-off so far and with your support it will get better each year. We would also like to thank Karen Mathiowetz and Nora Brashear for their help throughout the cook-off.”