BBQ 4 Badges 2019 Has A First Time Winner

Troy Boston and his sons stand with their trophies at the 2nd Annual BBQ 4 Badges on Saturday.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – BBQ 4 Badges is just in its second year, and this year a new team, “Thin Blue Swine”, from the Oskaloosa Police Department and sponsored by Legacy Real Estate, took home the Grand Champion honors.

The People’s Choice award went to ‘The Smokin Fattys’ team of John Grahek, Jon Roorda, and Kevin Lowry.

Troy Boston, Oskaloosa Police Lieutenant, led the Oskaloosa Police Department entry on Saturday.

This was his first ever competition, and he was judged to have the best BBQ among the other first responder teams that participated. He was also awarded Grand Champion.

It was this reporter’s first opportunity to speak with Boston about something else other than about crime.

This was Boston’s first time to enter such a contest, and describes himself as “a backyard BBQ guy just like everybody else. It just was our day.”

Boston said he’s been perfecting his craft in the backyard for the past ten years. He would on occasion BBQ something up for someone’s graduation or other get-togethers. ‘I just really haven’t taken it all that serious.”

“I was just in it to compete with the first responders, and Kory called us out this year, so we had to get involved,” added Boston.

Boston’s BBQ craft has evolved over the past ten years. They have tried certain rubs and recipes. “We finally got it figured out what we like, and what a general amount of people like, and that’s really what we try to cook for is the general consensus of people.”

Boston was joined by his son from Idaho, who is also an avid BBQ’r as well. Boston’s other son also stepped up to help, along with additional help from the Oskaloosa Police Department to make it all happen.

The People’s Choice award went to ‘The Smokin Fattys’ team of John Grahek, Jon Roorda, and Kevin Lowry.

One of those businesses that helped to sponsor the day was H&S Feed and Country Store.

Byron Eekhoff is the owner of H&S Feed and Country Store, saying he supports first responders and is one of his stores goals to be a support for first responders.

Every year, Eekhoff and H&S Feed and Country Store loans a new Traeger Grill for use at the firehouse.

Eekhoff was on hand all day, answering questions about the grills, and selling raffle tickets to win a Traeger. “We’re just happy to help.”

Wyndell Campbell, one of the organizers, talked about how the competition has grown, and how it benefits first responders and the communities they serve.

Twenty-five teams put their creations to heat at midnight Saturday, cooking through the night and into the day. Each team paid $200 to participate, looking to see if they had what it takes.

The heat from Mother Nature played a factor, as the sun beat down on the asphalt, the crowd, 800 to 900 of them in total, worked their way from BBQ pit to BBQ pit, tasting the best each had to offer.

When they found one they liked best, they deposited their ticket for that team, and the one with the most tickets became the ‘People’s Choice’ winner.

“Even though it was hot, we were able to have a really good day,” said Campbell of the crowd that came out in support. “The square and the uptown was full in Oskaloosa pretty much all day long.”

“We had just an absolutely wonderful day,” Campbell added.

Looking towards the future, Campbell says there are opportunities to grow the competition, which nearly tripled in size this year, with hopes of maybe doubling that for next year. “We see our downtown as a wonderful place to host these types of events, and we are blessed with a beautiful square.”

The idea to help benefit the emergency services of Mahaska County came over a morning breakfast between Campbell and Brickhouse Cafe owner Kory Wright.

Wright also serves as a Mahaska County Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and Campbell said it was easy to see the value of those emergency services. “We’re blessed to have some very great people that are doing all the things, while the rest of us are at home in bed in the middle of the night, or it’s too hot, or it’s too cold. We have a very good group here in Mahaska County that is willing to go out and do those things to take care of us in the community. We’re very blessed to have them here.”

The money goes to help first responders with things that may not always be in the budget, but are still needed to help them perform their duties.

In total, approximately $20,000.00 was raised, but now the task of sitting down and paying all the bills that go with it will happen, such as the meat bundles and entertainment.

When those expenses are taken care of, the balance will be sent to the emergency responders.

Campbell wanted to thank all of the sponsors, individuals, participants and the people for coming out and making it all possible.

Results as posted:

Grand Champion – Thin Blue Swine – Troy Boston and Oskaloosa Police Department sponsored by Legacy Real Estate
Reserve Grand Champion – Gothic Town Grillers – Randy Kern

Peoples Choice Award – Smokin’ Fatty’s – John Grahek, Jon Roorda and Kevin Lowry

Meat Categories:

Chicken
1st – Big Juicy BBQ Crew – Tim Lacy
2nd – Double D’s BBQ – Justin Dell sponsored by Clow Valve Company
3rd – B&J’s BBQ – Bob Arendt

Ribs
1st – Gothic Town Grillers – Randy Kern
2nd – Melody’s Kitchen – Rowdy Voss
3rd – Big Juicy BBQ Crew – Tim Lacy

Pork Shoulder
1st – After Hours Archery – Jeff Greenhalgh, Jesse Greenhalgh and Bill Goodman
2nd – Thin Blue Swine – Troy Boston and Oskaloosa Police Department sponsored by Legacy Real Estate
3rd – Gothic Town Grillers – Randy Kern

Brisket
1st – After Hours Archery – Jeff Greenhalgh, Jesse Greenhalgh and Bill Goodman
2nd – Thin Blue Swine – Troy Boston and Oskaloosa Police Department sponsored by Legacy Real Estate
3rd – Double D’s BBQ – Justin Dell sponsored by Clow Valve Company

Posted by on Jul 14 2019. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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