'When Pigs Fly' huge success

Aviators and barbecue enthusiasts descended on the McPherson Airport Friday and Saturday for the 9th annual When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest and Fly-In.
The Kansas City sanctioned contest had 34 teams from across Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, with 42 judges, 33 of which were certified.
“I believe that this year has been the best attended in the 9 years of the When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In,” said McPherson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Burch. “I estimate we had somewhere in the 1,000 range in total attendance.”
Burch added that the Kansas City BBQ Society rated the contest as excellent in all categories, and it received an overall top rating.
“We look for consistency in the quality of the meat that’s cooked. We judge meat on taste, texture and tenderness, as well and appearance,” said BBQ Judge Joe Guthrie of Guthrie, Okla. “We have to judge each piece of meat on its own merit. We don’t compare one piece to another.”
Guthrie said he’s been judging BBQ for nine years.
“I just love barbecue,” Guthrie said.
Several of the participants also said that, rather than family secrets or special recipes, loving barbecue is the key ingredient in participating in contests.
“This is great, I love it,” said contestant Doug Keller, of Salina, Kan. “(The secret is) patience, and a good rub now and then.”
This was Keller’s first year at McPherson, and his second contest.
“It’s good, but a little windy,” said another first-time participant, Barry Maupin of Lucas, Kan. “I’ve only done four or five competitions total. I haven’t figured out the secret yet. It’s just slow cooking. My best is probably pork. Other than that I just enjoy it all.”
In addition to barbecue, the event offered airplane rides, acrobatics from Kelly  Pietrowicz “The Flying Babe”, live music from McPherson’s Petty Cash Band and “Repeat Offenders,” a motorcycle stunt show.
“I think everything met or exceeded our expectations,” Burch said. “I think someties with the economy people are cutting back, but I think we’re doing a really good job and run an excellent contest.”

Winners are as follows:

Overall

Grand Champion – Butcher BBQ –  Chandler, Oklahoma

Reserve Champion – Lazy Bacon BBQ – Overland Park, Kansas

Chicken

10-Stretch’s BBQ- Hutchinson, Kansa

9 – Daddy Jacks BBQ – Wichita, kansas

8 – Badams BBQ – Higginsville, Missouri

7 – Smokers Wild – Paola, Kansas

6 – Prairie Pit BBQ – South Hutchinson, Kansa

5 – Redneck Firehouse BBQ – Bennington, kansas

4 – Bellys By Traeger –Haven, Kansas

3 – Lazy Bacon BBQ – Overland Park, Kansas

2 – Mr. Bar-B- Que – Galva, Kansas

1 – Lotta Bull BBQ – Marietta, Oklahoma

Pork Ribs

10- Cookshack – Ponca City, Oklahoma

9 – Lazy Bacon BBQ – Overland, Kansas

8 – River City BBQ – Concordia, Kansa

7 – Grauers Hog Wash BBQ – Salina, Kansas

6 – Dodge County Smokers – Mission, Kansas

5 – Badams BBQ – Higginsville, Missouri

4 – Twin Oaks Smokin Crew – Stillwater, Oklahoma

3 – High Octane BBQ – Dodge City, Kansas

2 – Butcher BBQ – Chandler, Oklahoma

1 – Bubba’s Que Crew –Emporia, Kansa

Pork

10 – Grauer’s Hog Wash BBQ – Salina, Kansas

9 – JP Custom Smoke – Wichita, Kansas

8 – Butcher BBQ – Chandler, Oklahoma

7 – Cookshack – Ponca City, Oklahoma

6 – Dodge County Smokers – Mission, Kansas

5 – Smokers Wild – Paola, Kansas

4 – Quad E. BBQ – McPherson, kansas

3 – Lotta Bull BBQ – Marietta, Oklahoma

2 – Lazy Bacon BBQ – Overland Park, Kansas

1 – This Butt’s For You –McPherson, Kansas

Brisket

10 – Quad E. BBQ – McPherson, kansas

9 – Twin Oak Smokin Crew – Stillwater, Oklahoma

8 – Cookshack – Ponca City, Oklahoma

7 – High Octance BBQ – Dodge City, Kansa

6 – Lotta Bull BBQ – Marietta, Oklahoma

5 – JP Custom Smoke – Wichita, Kansas

4 – Dodge County Smokers  - Mission, Kansas

3 – Bib’s N Rib’s – Holden, Missouri

2 – Bellys by Traeger – Haven, Kansas

1 – Butcher BBQ – Chandler, Oklahoma