WERE YOU AT THE SMOKIN' RAILROAD STREET BBQ?

People, people, everywhere last weekend in Elkmont. The Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street BBQ fundraiser provided lots of fun and great food.  We had 2 heavy downpours on Friday afternoon but the music started on time and our downtown was rocking.  The sounds of music were provided by the Limestone County Dulcimer group and Piney Creek, and Gary Compton and Kenneth Hogan; special thanks to them for sharing their talents with us.  Beautiful sunshine and typical June weather shone on the main event on Saturday.  We had 29 cookers this year and 15 of them were new to the Elkmont Cookoff.  We all had a great time; how can you not with great BBQ everywhere.   The judging started and the very full judges selected their favorites.  Our own Kalynn Clinard, Miss Limestone County Rodeo, was there to help with the presentation of awards.   The event raised over $3,000, which the Lions Club will use to provide glasses and eye exams for children and two $1,000 scholarships to Elkmont High School seniors.

Some thoughts from Susan Pylant:
Well after a little rest Larry and I, along with the Elkmont Lions Club, would like to THANK all the BBQ Teams for coming and cooking, sure hope you had a great time, and for all the vendors that came hope you had a good day as well. Judges, not to leave you out at all, I know you had

a hard job tasting all that good food, Thank you for coming as well. The Town of Elkmont: Mayor Compton, councilmen Coty Johns, Jack Gilbert, Jessie Hobbs, Ronald Christ , along with Billie Sue Pressnell, without your help we could never pull this event off, Your continued support in awesome, THANK YOU. TriGreen and Doug Swaim, thank you for feeding so many Friday; it was great. Also to The Petting Zoo ( Beth and Daryl Blankenship), thank you for bringing the cute animals. To Ardmore Lions Club, thank you for letting us use your train again this year.  It was a success. Sandy Boyd, thank you for helping us as well.

 Grand Champion: 

 Smokin' A Fatty

Reserve grand champion:

 Backyard Porkers

People's Choice Award: 

People's Choice winner Kickin Ash and Tamin' Flames. From Left to right: Josh Maples, Kalynn Clinard - Miss Limestone Sheriff's Rodeo Queen, Joe Dowd ( head cook) and Lee Patterson.
 
Category winners were:
Chicken:
First:      South Ryland 
Second:  Smokin' A Fatty
Third:     Backyard Porkers
 
Ribs:
First:       Smokin' A Fatty
Second:   Backyard Porkers
Third:      Puck Daddys Killer Q

General Knowledge for Blog Readers:
(not connected to or supported by the Lions Club)
If you would like to upgrade your skills to help you compete next year or simply clueless about how to cooking Southern BBQ, you want to sign up for the "Smoke Me Silly" Pork Rib Class.

If you have ever wanted to learn to cook great BBQ like the Competition Professionals in your own backyard, now is your chance.  The Smoke Me Silly Team is teaching a Pork Rib class on July 19th at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntsville, AL.  They will walk you through the entire process from smoker setup, meat selection, trimming and cooking. The class will end with you being able to sample some of the award winning ribs yourself. And who knows, we may even have some other types of award winning BBQ there to sample!!! Cost is $60, and there are only a few spots left! If you are interested, send them a facebook message and they will send you a registration form.