2023 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show BBQ Cook-Off Winners Announced
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
After all the smoke cleared and the barbecuing was done, the judges of the 2023 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show (MCJLS) BBQ Cook-Off, held on January 6-7, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas, have selected the winners in several categories, announced Tony Camarillo, MCJLS BBQ Cook-Off Director.
“As the head judge, it was a great event! Cooks from all over the state made the trip to Eagle Pass and those that I talked to had nothing but praise for the City of Eagle Pass and the friendliness of the people and the tastiness of the food,” Rose Simola, International Barbeque Cookers Association Head Judge, said.
The Overall Grand Champion Trophy of the 2023 MCJLS BBQ Cook-Off was presented to AJ Garza of God’s Country BBQ with a total score of 562.38 points, finishing first place in the Pork Spare Ribs category, second place in the Brisket category, and seventh place in the Chicken category.
The other Overall Winners also included David Kaleikini of Fire and Ice with a total of score of 546.72 points for Second Place; Alfinio Flores of Pistoleros BBQ with a total score of 538.04 points for Third Place; Steven Foster of D & S Cookers with a total score of 537.52 points for Fourth Place; JJ Rodriguez of Otra Vez Ustedes with a total score of 529.16 points for Fifth Place; Jimmy Barfield of JnD Ball & Chain with a total score of 524.24 points for Sixth Place; Edward Oakes of Dirt Track Cookers with a total score of 523.7 points for Seventh Place; Carlos Enriquez of Los Milagros Q Crew with a total score of 519.68 points for Eighth Place; David Villanueva of Thin Blue Smoke with a total score of 513.94 points for Ninth Place; and Greg Phillips of The Smokin Cajun with a total score of 508.76 points for Tenth Place.
A total of 28 BBQ teams participated in the 2023 MCJLS BBQ Cook-Off, said Tony Camarillo.
In the Brisket Category, Edward Oakes of Dirt Track Cookers won First Place with a score of 188.68 points; AJ Garza of God’s Country BBQ won Second Place with a score of 187.68 points; David Kaleikini of Fire and Ice with a score of 183.34 points won Third Place; Alfinio Flores of Pistoleros BBQ with a score of 179.66 points won Fourth Place; JJ Rodriguez of Otra Vez Ustedes with a score of 177.62 points won Fifth Place; Cesar Portillo of Triple Threat BBQ with a score of 175.34 points won Sixth Place; Jimmy Barfield of JnD Ball & Chain with a score of 174.76 points won Seventh Place; Carlos Enriquez of Los Milagros Q Crew with a score of 170.48 points won Eighth Place; Mike Jones of Twisted J UDS with a score of 169.66 points won Ninth Place; and Oscar Garcia of 03 BBQ with a score of 169.48 points won Tenth Place.
In the Pork Spare Ribs Category, AJ Garza of God’s Country BBQ with 196.14 points won First Place; David Kaleikini of Fire and Ice with 190.12 points won Second Place; David Villanueva of Thin Blue Smoke with 188.54 points won Third Place; Grady Speed of Grade A BBQ with 188.14 points won Fourth Place; Carlos Enriquez of Los Milagros Q Crew with 187.40 points won Fifth Place; Greg Phillips with The Smokin Cajun with 182.14 points won Sixth Place; Oscar Garcia of 03 BBQ with 181.14 points won Seventh Place; Julio Carrazco of Death Row Smokerz with 179.80 points won Eighth Place; Alfinio Flores of Pistoleros BBQ with 179.72 points won Ninth Place; and JJ Rodriguez of Otra Vez Ustedes with 179.25 points won Tenth Place.
In the Chicken Category, Blake Schendel of J Bar J Texas BBQ with 201.20 points won First Place; Steven Foster of D & S Cookers with 196.98 points won Second Place; Edward Oakes of Dirt Track Cookers with 184.94 points won Third Place; Chris Mireles of Smokin Michelada with 183.08 points won Fourth Place; Hugo Sanchez of 925 Smoke Show with 182.34 points won Fifth Place; Alfinio Flores of Pistoleros BBQ with 178.66 points won Sixth Place; AJ Garza of God’s Country BBQ with 178.56 points won Seventh Place; Jimmy Barfield of JnD Ball & Chain with 177.28 points won Eighth Place; Grady Speed of Grade A BBQ with 174.54 points won Ninth Place; and Joe Jimenez of JJ’s Texas BBQ with 173.54 points won Tenth Place.
In the Guisado Category, Art Zamora won First Place.
In the Chili Category, Edward Oakes won First Place.
In the Beans Category, Belinda Martinez won First Place and Jimmy Barfield won Second Place.
In the Pan de Campo Category, Jimmy Barfield won First Place.
Last but not least, in the Margaritas Categroy, Tres Conlon won First Place and Mike Jones won Second Place.
The 2023 MCJLS BBQ Cook-Off was a great success and all funds raised will go towards the Maverick County 4-H and FFA members, noted Tony Camarillo.
