1010 Fires were lit and smoke was rising before the sun November 9 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth as 27 high school BBQ teams from across Texas went smoker to smoker during the FWSSR HSBBQ Regional Competition presented by Standard Meat. The competition awarded $10,500 in premiums to teams and $15,000 in scholarships to students in the Pitmaster Scholarship Challenge. “This was an exciting weekend for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo,” said FWSSR President Brad Barnes. “The Texas High School BBQ competition capped off what has been a very busy Fall of what we’re calling ‘Fort Worth Stock Show Extra,’ that has included the Jr. Shooting Championships and Art Contest and the International Wine Competition. The Show has already awarded more than $150,000 in premiums and scholarships to Texas students and we’re just getting started.” HSBBQ Inc., based in Burnet, Texas, was founded five years ago with the goal to engage students in a competition that enhances leadership skills, work ethic and values. The regional competitions require student-led teams to prepare dishes in five categories: dessert, beans, chicken, ribs and brisket. Taking home grand championship honors was Stateline Smokers of Newton High School in Newton. The team, consisting of Kylie Coker, Hannah Siau, Jantzen Fountain, Jared Schmidt and Sarah Trammel cooked up first place in beans and second place in ribs to take the overall championship, earning a $1,500 premium for their school. Judges tapped the Sizzlin Rangers of Greenwood High School in Midland as the reserve champions. Students Daniel Diaz, Wayne Dizmang, Brandon Porter, Alena Pena Jennifer Dizmang and Suzie Ledesma each earned a $2,000 scholarship and won second place in the brisket division on the way to their reserve win. Coming in third with a win in the brisket division was Mustang Smoke of Ingleside High School of Ingleside, which included Bella Winn, Brodie Daniel, Kiah Hayward, Marcos Reyes, and Logan McGrath. The school earned a $500 premium. Unique to the Fort Worth competition was the Pitmaster Scholarship Challenge open to junior and senior regional qualifier competitors. Students first completed a 50-question online exam where they fielded questions regarding the history of BBQ, food safety and cooking techniques. The top 10 finalists were then invited to make oral presentations about BBQ experience and lessons learned through that experience. Addison Hallmark of Reagan County High School Smoke Whisperers in Big Lake, Texas, found her way to the top of the judge’s list, earning a $3,500 scholarship for her efforts, while fellow Reagan County student Karma Ybarra of the Brisketeers team was the reserve winner, earning a $3,000 scholarship. Rounding out the field of 10 were: • 3rd, $2,500, Galilee Salinas, Eagle Q - Hillcrest School • 4th, $2,000, Colten Terry, Captain Hooked On BBQ - Lubbock Cooper • 5th, $1,500, Clara Babcock, Eagle Q - Hillcrest School • 6th, $1,500, Lance Griffith, Up n’ Smoke - Midland High School • 7th, $1,500, Branson McDaniel, Ring of Fire - Midland High School • 8th, $1,000, Gabriel Rogers, Meat Freaks - Conroe High School • 8th, $1,000, Alyssa Griffith, Up n’ Smoke - Midland High School • 9th, $500, Natalia Salcido, Brisketeers - Reagan County High school BBQ teams from across Texas competed for $25,000 in premiums and scholarships November 9 PRESENTED BY HIGH SCHOOL PITMASTERS BRING THE HEAT
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