Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-Off

Barry Byers Posted February 29, 2016 3:00am Italy Lions Club

Image: The local Braggin’ Rights and Grand Champion trophy went to Joe Chadwick who totaled 30 overall points during the 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-off. Presenting Joe with his award is Flossie Gowin. — The local Braggin’ Rights and Grand Champion trophy went to Joe Chadwick who totaled 30 overall points during the 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-off. Presenting Joe with his award is Flossie Gowin. (Barry Byers)

Milford, Texas — The 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-off, hosted by the Rockett Ranch Café and managers Stephanie and Scott Otto, welcomed pit pros from areas as far off as Oklahoma, Austin and Waco.

The Event featured 6 categories including Beans, Chicken, Ribs, Pork Butt and Brisket. Judge Coordinator Royce Williams oversaw the judging of each category with help from Kim Mitchell, Courtni Bland, and student assistants Amber Hooker and Hannah Carr, both representing Italy ISD.

Among the volunteer judges were Dallas CASA case worker Ron Craig, Brian and Karen Mathiowetz, Italy Lions Club members Donald and Karen Brummett, Italy City Councilman Carl Cash, Micki Howard, Nathan Carr, Samuel Corley, Ivan and Emily Roldan, Theresa and Jonathan Roldan, Kevin Roldan and Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin. Representing the Austin College Kangaroos Football team from Sherman, Texas were Zain Byers, Shane Brooks, Eric Summerlin, and Ben Moran, just to name a few.

The cook-off’s Grand Champion was Terry Bowling of Blooming Grove. Mr. Bowling was one of the original founders of the cook-off event when his sanctioned Lone Star BBQ club sponsored the Italy Lions Club. Bowling was also a awarded a 1st Place plaque and a $210.00 for his 1st Place finish in the Ribs category. He was awarded 3rd Place in the Chicken category, received 4th Place in the Brisket category, and received 6th Place in the Pork Butt category. Mr. Bowling dedicated his accomplishments to his wife of 19 years, Glenda Ann Bowling (1953 – 2016), who passed away just two weeks before the cook-off.

The cook-off’s Reserve Champion went to Lawton Oklahoma’s Anthony Hernandez and Los Primos, BBQ. The local Braggin’ Rights trophy went to Joe Chadwick. Payton Day finished in 2nd place, Scott Blanchard, owner of BHB Feed & Supply, LLC of Italy, finished in 3rd place, and Danny Day finished in 4th place.

Scott “Steve Harvey” Otto emceed the awards ceremony with help from Flossie Gowin who presented the trophy, plaques, participation ribbons and checks.

Beans Category:

Nancy Mitchell — $80.00
Ramond Howey
Randy Brumbelow
Gary Chenault
Danny Day
Jason Freuh

Chicken Category:

John Morgan — 1st Place, $210.00
Chris Romar — 2nd Place, $126.00
Terry Bowling — 3rd Place, $84.00
Anthony Hernandez
Robt Erlanser
Randy Brumbelow
Rick Moritz
Jason Freuh
John Paine
Ramond Howey

Ribs Category:

Terry Bowling — 1st Place, $210.00
Scott Parks — 2nd Place, $126.00
John Morgan — 3rd Place, $84.00
Ramond Howey
Gary Chenault
David Leflere
John Paine
Rick Moritz
Robt Erlanser
Chris Roman

Pork Butt:

Randy Brumbelow — 1st Place, $210.00
Chris Roman — 2nd Place, $126.00
Joe Chadwick — 3rd Place, $84.00
Joe Jaska
David Leflere
Terry Bowling
Anthony Hernandez
Neil McClendon
Scott Blanchard
John Paine

Brisket Category:

Scott Parks — 1st Place, $210.00
Anthony Hernandez — 2nd Place, $126.00
Robt Erlanser — 3rd Place, $84.00
Terry Bowling
Rick Moritz
Dewany Turlos
Payton Day
Randy Brumbelow
John Paine
David Leflere

Braggin’ Rights:

Joe Chadwick — 1st Place
Payton Day — 2nd Place
Scott Blanchard — 3rd Place
Danny Day — 4th Place

The Italy Lions Club would like to give special thanks to all the participants and to the event sponsors:

Rockett Ranch Café
BanditSigns.com
Monolithic
D.B. Farms
Judge Jackie Miller
O.K. Lumber
DFW Hot Shots
Buna Bean
Dr. Thacker
Johnny Carino’s
Cate Welding
Wood’s Paint & Body
4-Cs
Germania Insurance
Harris Paint & Body

Jason Frueh, Matt Nieman and Mark Boriskin of Pit for Brains BBQ are enjoying competing in the 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-Off held in Milford, Texas and hosted by the Rockett Ranch Café. The talented trio hail from the Austin area. (Barry Byers)

Joe and Susie Jaska of Smokin’ Joe’s taking in the comradery associated with the Lions Club BBQ Cook-off. Smokin’ Joe’s traveled in from Penelope, Texas. (Barry Byers)

BHB Feed & Supply, LLC of Italy, Texas participated in the 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-off (Barry Byers)

Italy’s own Payton Day and his father Danny Day are feeling good about their chances in the 2016 Italy Lions Club Cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Brian and Darla Morgan of Italy get their brisket ready for the final judging. (Barry Byers)

Silent Action items and gift baskets were also available with the goodies going to the highest bidders. (Barry Byers)

Judge Coordinator Royce Williams (far right) goes over the rules for judging the next event. (Barry Byers)

Nathan Carr helps judge the Lions Club Cook-Off with his daughter Hannah Carr earning community service hours as volunteer student from the Italy Jr. High School. (Barry Byers)

Dallas CASA case worker supervisor, Ron Craig, has been photographed alongside state senators, city commissioners, and many other political figures. However, having his photo taken with fellow 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-off judge, Karen Mathiowetz, of Italy, is sure to be the most prestigious of all the feathers in his cap. (Barry Byers)

Event MC Scott Otto, and one of the manager’s of the Rockett Ranch Café that hosted the Cook-off, begins to call out the competition winners. (Barry Byers)

Nancy Mitchell is presented a check for $80.00 and participation ribbon from Flossie Gowin for winning the Beans challenge during the 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents John Morgan with his 1st Place Chicken plaque and his participation ribbon. 1st Place paid $210.00. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents Chris Roman with his 2nd Place Chicken plaque and a participation ribbon. 2nd Place paid $126.00. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents Terry Bowling, of Blooming Grove, with his 1st Place Ribs plaque and his $210.00 winner’s check. Mr. Bowling was also the cook-off’s Grand Champion, was awarded 3rd Place in the Chicken category, received 4th Place in the Brisket category, and received 6th Place in the Pork Butt category. He dedicated his accomplishments to his wife of 19 years, Glenda Ann Bowling (1953 – 2016), who passed away just two weeks before the cook-off. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents Randy Brumbelow with his 1st Place Pork Butt plaque and his participation ribbon. 1st Place paid $210.00. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents David Leflere with his 10 Place participation ribbon in the Brisket competition. Leflere also placed 5th in the Pork Butt competition and 6th in the Ribs competition. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents Robt Erlansor with his 3rd Place plaque and his participation ribbon. 3rd Place paid $84.00. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents Anthony Hernandez with his 2nd Place plaque and his participation ribbon. 2nd Place paid $126.00. Mr. Hernandez was the 2016 BBQ Cook-off Reserve Grand Champion. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin presents Scott Parks with his1st Place Brisket plaque, his participation ribbon, and a winner’s check for $210.00. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin congratulates Danny Day on his 4th Place finish in the local Braggin’ Rights category. Mr. Day also placed 5th in the Beans category. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin congratulates Scott Blanchard, owner of BHB Feed & Supply, LLC of Italy, for his 3rd Place finish in the local Braggin’ Rights category. (Barry Byers)

Italy Lions Club member Flossie Gowin congratulates Payton Day on his 2nd Place finish in the local Braggin’ Rights category. Payton also received 7th Place in the Brisket category. (Barry Byers)

Members of the Austin College Kangaroos Football team, including Zain Byers (Italy HS ’14) Shane Brooks, Eric Summerlin, and Ben Moran, made the trip to Milford, Texas and volunteered their time, and taste buds, as judges during the 2016 Italy Lions Club BBQ Cook-Off. Thanks, “Bar-B-Roos!” (Barry Byers)