VINEMONT, Ala. – Vinemont residents on Saturday no doubt smelled something delicious in the air. The Butcher Meat Co. hosted its innaugural Backyard Grill-Off, and several barbecue teams strapped on aprons and fired up the grills for a good cause and some bragging rights. All proceeds from the event will benefit Vinemont’s Art Park and Henry & Roe Wood Park.
In all, 14 teams, including locals and groups from Hartselle, Birmingham, Athens, Florence and Tennessee, competed. Competitors were required to bring their own equipment, but the meat was provided by The Butcher Meat Co. and covered by registration fees.
Organizer Richard Neese said providing the meat helped the event stand out in contrast to similar competitions. “The competitors love it here because we have a butcher shop in-house, so everybody has the same quality meat,” he said.
Grill-Off categories included Ribs, Chicken and People’s Choice in which guests could purchase tickets to vote on their favorite team’s chicken wings.
Judges were local faces, including Vinemont High School Principal Robin Netherton, Wallace State Community College President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, Rep. Corey Harbison (R-Good Hope), Cullman County Commissioner Gary Marchman, Vinemont Town Councilwoman Charlotte Cosper and Matt Townson of Cullman Savings Bank. Butcher Meat Co. Owner Justin Smith served as head judge and tie breaker.
Trophies were awarded to the Grand Champion and first-place finishers in each category. The Grand Champion received $1,500, first place in each category received $1,000, second place received $500 and third place received $125.
Winners:
Chicken
- 1st- All Smoked Up; Captains – Tammie Scott and Bonnie Edmondson
- 2nd- Secondhand Smoke; Captains – RJ McKee and Donyale Wooten
- 3rd- Bright Future BBQ; Captain- Alex Boike
Ribs
- 1st- Wynn’s BBQ; Captain- JD Wynn
- 2nd- Bright Future BBQ; Captain- Alex Boike
- 3rd- Wee Daddy’s BBQ; Captain- Don Byford
People’s Choice
- 1st- Firehose BBQ; Captain- Tim Martin
- 2nd- BCS Grill Masters; Brother’s Concrete Supply LLC
- 3rd- Smoking Goat BBQ; Captain- George Gibson
Grand Champion
Zebco33; Captain- Zeb Jones
Wynn’s BBQ team, the winner of the Ribs competition, accepts its award from Justin and Kadi Smith. (Sara Gladney for The Cullman Tribune) 
Firehose BBQ, the winner of the People’s Choice competition, accepts its award from Justin and Kadi Smith. (Sara Gladney for The Cullman Tribune) 
Tammie Scott and Bonnie Edmondson, members of team All Smoked Up, are awarded the top prize in the Chicken competition by Justin Smith. (Sara Gladney for The Cullman Tribune)
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