TIFTON — Bright and early Saturday morning, musicians tuned their instruments as smoke swept through Fulwood Park like a morning fog. This was the morning of the 6th annual Rhythm and Ribs festival.

The event is also linked with the Georgia Barbecue Association which helps host a competition for both backyard grillers and professionals.

There were 66 teams that competed this year, 33 in each group. The backyard division cooked chicken, ribs and pulled pork. The professional division cooked pork loin, ribs and pork.  

The professional grand champion was Budmeister’s BBQ earning a check for $3,000.

The professional reserve grand champion was Rescue Smokers who earned a check for $1,500.

The backyard grand champion was Keith Newell and the War Dawgs who earned a check for $1,000.

According to professional judge Warren Abrams, the BBQ is judged based on tenderness, taste, appearance and overall impression.

Off the Chain from Covington was grand champion last year. Chuck East and his wife Carrie East have been cooking competitively for five years. They were both professional judges that found more time to cook after their kids had graduated high school and left for college.

“This year we’re running for points. We’re trying to be the team of the year this year,” Chuck said.

Chuck’s specialty is cooking pork loin while Carrie is best at building the boxes for the judges.

“Appearance is always the first score. So appearance is big,” Carrie said.

Chuck was taught by the Reserve Grand Champion winner, Robby Royal of Rescue Smokers. He is the EMS director of Turner County and is from Sycamore and has been featured on several TV shows, including “BBQ Pitmasters” where he won the season and a $50,000 check.

He won reserve grand champion two years ago here at Rhythm and Ribs. He says what sets him apart from the competition is the appearance of their boxes.

“It’s human instinct. If a judge opens that box and it’s the best looking box, it might not be the best tasting box but it works,” Royal explained.

Royal also said that he looks forward to Rhythm and Ribs every year because they take care of the teams.

“It’s probably one of the most popular locations,” said Royal. “The mayor always welcomes us and y’all are good folks.”

Beyond the ribs was the rhythm. Six bands played at the primary stage during the event. The first was The River, a cover band who has a reunion set of sorts after not playing together live in around 10 years.

Next was Erin Coburn, a 17 year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a singer/songwriter with a rhythm and blues sound, and has already recorded two full-length albums.

Following her was the Melody Trucks band, Cedric Burnside and the headline act Brent Cobb who has toured with Chris Stapleton and is Grammy-nominated for best Americana album.

This event is organized by the outreach marketing group, according to Mayor Julie Smith.

“Every year has gotten bigger and better,” Smith said. “We had record numbers of cook teams in both divisions. Record numbers of arts and crafts, and food vendors this year. Thousands of people who have come through our park and our town.”

The event is funded by hotel and motel tax and by sponsors, according to Smith. All of the money that goes into the awards of the competition comes from the sponsors.  

The top three backyard winners in all categories were:

Chicken

• 1st place- Eric Wisham and team Widespread Jelly.

• 2nd place- Chris Anderson and team Wine and Swine.

• 3rd place – Carson Bowen and team Grilling in the Name.

Pulled Pork

• 1st place- Steve Pridgett and team Two Toes BBQ.

• 2nd place- Keith Newell and team War Dawgs.

• 3rd place- Jamie Walker and team BBQ Revival.

Ribs

• 1st place- Zach Brown and team Flesh and Bone BBQ.

• 2nd place- Keith Newell and team War Dawgs.

• 3rd place- Chris Anderson and team Wine and Swine.

The top four professional teams in each category were:

Pork Loin

• 1st place- Rescue Smokes with a perfect score of 600.

• 2nd place- East Coast BBQ.

• 3rd place- Weekend Warriors.

• 4th place- Off the Chain.

Pork

• 1st place- Budmeister’s BBQ

• 2nd place- Pots BBQ.

• 3rd place- Ashley Homestore.

• 4th place- Hold Your Horses BBQ.

Ribs

• 1st place- Rescue Smokers with a perfect score of 600.

• 2nd place- Smokin’ Outlaws.

• 3rd place- Budmeister’s BBQ.

• 4th place- Weekend Warriors.