In Memphis, Tennessee, the Shed BBQ and Blues Joint team from Ocean Springs, Mississippi emerged as the grand champions of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Their delectable whole hog preparation earned them the top prize in the whole hog division, where an entire pig is cooked at once. This event, founded in the 1970s, has become one of the premiere events for culinary competition.
With advancements in barbecue smoking technology and an abundance of recipes available online, competition at this year’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest was fiercer than ever. A total of $150,000 in prize money was awarded across categories such as ribs, shoulder, and whole hog. While pork is a staple ingredient in Memphis barbecue tradition, there were also side contests for wings, poultry, beef, and seafood.
Brother-sister duo Brad Orrison and Brooke Lewis have been competing with their team The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint for 17 years. This year marked their third grand championship win. Orrison described the competition as “the Super Bowl of swine” and emphasized the high level of talent and skill displayed by competitors.
For this year’s contest, Orrison, Lewis
