Pitmasters, Prairie Farms Win At American Royal World Series Of BBQ

Last updated on March 25th, 2021

For the second year in a row, the first- and second-place teams in the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Competition rib category cooked with Prairie Fresh ribs to secure their top spots.

First place winner Smokin’ Hooks of Portland, Texas, and second-place finisher Smoke N Babes BBQ, of Olathe, Kansas, were among the 13 teams using Prairie Fresh pork that placed in the top 20 of the pork, ribs or overall divisions of the Open Meats Contest.

Prairie Fresh awarded top 20 teams using its products with additional prize money and also matched those amounts in donations on the teams’ behalf to Operation BBQ Relief (OBR), an organization that provides meals to displaced residents and emergency personnel during times of natural and other disasters.

In total, Prairie Fresh is donating $2,450 to the 501.c.3 Disaster Relief Organization based in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, including $750 in the name of Smokin’ Hooks and $500 courtesy of Smoke N Babes BBQ.

“Talk about a dream come true,” says Ryan Deal, Smokin’ Hooks pitmaster. “I think most teams go to the American Royal Barbecue hoping to do well but to hit a first place rib is definitely something we will never forget! The American Royal is the Super Bowl of BBQ!”

To qualify for the additional prize money and OBR donations, teams were required to cook with Prairie Fresh pork, hang a Prairie Fresh banner in their space and post to social media using Prairie Fresh hashtags.

The Open Meats Contest had 490 competing teams.
“We’re thrilled and honored that the best pitmasters in the world competed with Prairie Fresh pork in the American Royal World Series of Barbecue,” says David Eaheart, Prairie Fresh senior director of communications and brand marketing. “We extend a special congratulations to Smokin’ Hooks for first place and Smoke N Babes BBQ for second place in the rib category of the Open Meats Contest.”

The following top-20 teams used Prairie Fresh products at the American Royal Barbecue Open Meats Competition:
 
Open Rib category:
 
1^st – Smokin’ Hooks, Portland, Texas
2^nd – Smoke N Babes BBQ, Olathe, Kansas
5^th – Sublime BBQ, Olathe, Kansas
9^th – Slap’s BBQ, Kansas City, Kansas
10^th – Kesner Family, Kansas City, Missouri
14^th – Man Meat BBQ, Stilwell, Kansas
19^th – Tebo Creek BBQ, Belton, Missouri
 
Open Pork category:
 
3^rd – Texas-car-b-que, Carrollton, Texas
7^th – Smokin’ Dan, Owasso, Oklahoma
12^th – Oklahoma Joe’s Serious Que, St. Louis, Missouri
13^th – Old Virginia Smoke, Bristow, Virginia
 
Overall:
 
4^th – Oklahoma Joe’s Serious Que, St. Louis, Missouri
8^th – Old Virginia Smoke, Bristow, Virginia
10^th – Man Meat BBQ, Stilwell, Kansas
14^th – Fergolicious, Olathe, Kansas
17^th – BYO Grill, St. Louis, Missouri
19^th – Sublime BBQ, Olathe, Kansas
20^th – Smokin’ Hooks, Portland, Texas
 
The 40^th American Royal Barbecue, regarded as the world’s largest barbecue competition, was held Sept. 12-15 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.