No, that’s not Deep Purple, and the smoke wasn’t exactly on the water — more like about a mile east of the river at AutoZone Park. Last Saturday saw the inaugural edition of Melissa Cookston’s World Junior Barbecue League Championship, in which young adults compete for a cleaver trophy — and $5,000 in prize money.
A team from Tallulah Falls, Georgia, Pit Vipers B out-cooked six other barbecue teams to take home the Grand Championship, a custom cutting board, the trophy, and $5,000 in the first-ever World Junior Barbecue League Championship.
“We had a great day watching these teams work together from before sunrise to just before sunset to produce quality barbecue that really impressed our group of seasoned judges,” said Melissa Cookson, World Junior Barbecue League Founder in a statement after the event. “Congratulations to all the teams on a job well done with a special congratulations going to our Chairman’s Reserve grand champions Pit Vipers B from Tallulah Falls High School.”
“I still can’t believe it,” said Joel Bourlet, Pit Vipers B spokesman. “We are going to use the prize money to buy a new trailer to make traveling and competing easier.”
Tallulah Falls High School was represented by two barbecue teams, Pit Vipers B and Pit Vipers A. Other teams competing at the event hailed from Memphis, Tennessee; Oxford, Mississippi; and Horn Lake, Mississippi.
Membership in the World Junior Barbecue League is a one-time cost of $25. To learn more about the WJBL, visit the website at worldjrbbqleague.com.
Complete list of Placements/Winners
Grand Champion
Pit Vipers B, Tallulah Falls High School
Chicken
1st Pit Vipers A, Tallulah Falls High School
2nd Thacker Mountain BBQ
3rd Crosstown BBQ
4th Pit Vipers B, Tallulah Falls High School
5th Soaring Swine, Horn Lake High School
6th Smoking Firebirds, Horn Lake High School
7th Pigs on the Fly, Horn Lake High School
Ribs
1st Pit Vipers B, Tallulah Falls High School
2nd Pit Vipers A, Tallulah Falls High School
3rd Crosstown BBQ
4th Pigs on the Fly, Horn Lake High School
5th Thacker Mountain BBQ
6th Smoking Firebirds, Horn Lake High School
7th Soaring Swine, Horn Lake High School
Pork
1st Pit Vipers B, Tallulah Falls High School
2nd Crosstown BBQ
3rd Soaring Swing, Horn Lake High School
4th Thacker Mountain BBQ
5th Smoking Firebirds, Horn Lake High School
6th Pigs on the Fly, Horn Lake High School
7th Pit Vipers A, Tallulah Falls High School
Brisket
1st Pit Vipers B, Tallulah Falls High School
2nd Crosstown BBQ
3rd Pit Vipers A, Tallulah Falls High School
4th Soaring Swing, Horn Lake High School
5th Smoking Firebirds, Horn Lake High School
6th Pigs on the Fly, Horn Lake High School
7th Thacker Mountain BBQ
Spirit Award
Pigs on the Fly, Horn Lake High School
