The five member team placed 9th in the Dessert category, 6th in the Beans category, 8th in the Brisket category, 5th in the Ribs category, and 5th in the Chicken category.

FHS Culinary teachers Michelle Gordon and Sydney Tipton said this group of students is new to the BBQ competition team.

“They all work really well together and are all very hard working kiddos,” Gordon said. “The team practiced quite a few times this year, which included Saturdays, early mornings, late afternoons, and sometimes practicing during their culinary class, so it is definitely a commitment.”

Gordon said that the team utilized the BBQ pit that Evie Mae’s Arnis Robbins built for the team this summer.

“It was awesome, and we are so grateful to him for making it for us,” Gordon said. “We have also been mentored by Nathan from Evie Mae’s throughout our practices and competition, and we are so grateful for his assistance and expertise.”

Tipton said that the BBQ competitions are hard work for the students, as well as a very competitive setting.

“The actual competition day consists of getting up at 4:00 a.m., arriving to the competition site, a parking lot outside at Lamesa High School, at 4:30 a.m., lighting their pit at 5:00 a.m., and then teams are allowed to start prepping everything at 6:00 a.m.,” Tipton said. “Then, throughout the day teams turn in each if their items: dessert, our team made homemade strawberry shortcake with homemade hand-whisked whipped cream and fresh strawberries, pinto beans, chicken, ribs and brisket.”

Tipton said that advisors are not allowed in the prep area once the teams start prepping at 6:00 a.m. She said the teams do it all by themselves.

“We are allowed to talk to them and taste things as they go but at this point, they need to be a well-oiled machine,” Tipton said. “On top of all that they fought 50 mile an hour winds that day, which was not fun at all, and still had smiles on their faces!”

The team will compete again at the State competition on April 24 in Llano, Texas.