Tifton’s First Rhythm & Ribs Barbecue Fest, held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19, was a Memphis Barbecue Network sanctioned event. The MBN Judges have announced the winners of the competition: The Grand Champion is Smoke Shack Barbecue, Scott McDaniel of North Augusta, S.C.

Southern Chefs of Cobb (Ga.) will represent Tifton at the State MBN event, because Smoke Shack had already qualified in another competition.

First-place winners received $1,000. They are: Whole Hog: Bubba Grills – Lonnie Smith of Vienna; Shoulder: Smoke Shack Barbecue – Scott McDaniel of North Augusta, S.C.; Ribs: Smoke Shack Barbecue.

Second-place winners received $800. They are Whole Hog: Jack’s Old South – David Hair of Vienna; Shoulder: Southern Chefs – Ed Fulford of Cobb; and Ribs: Yazoo’s Delta Que – Melissa Cookard of Mesbit, Miss.

Third-place winners received $600. They are Whole Hog: Southern Chefs – Ed Fulford of Cobb; Shoulder: Jack’s Old South - David Hair of Vienna; and Ribs: Quenut BBQ -- Tracy Meyer of Columbus.

Fourth-place winners received $400. They are: Whole Hog: Barbecue Crew – Foy Whitley of Moultrie; Shoulder: Boggy Pond BBQ Brigade – Buster Dunn of Moultrie; and Ribs: Bubba Grills – Lonnie Smith of Haddock.

In the category of Back Yard Barbecue Winners, prize levels were $250, $200, $150 and $100. Pulled Pork first place went to Smokers and the Bandits – Lyn Powell of Tifton; second place went to Lightning Strike BBQ – David Huckaby of Adel; third place: Jethro’s Cooking Crew – Jeff Schramm of Richland; and fourth place: Bailey’s Butts – Greg Sellars of Poulan.

Pork Rib first place also went to Smokers and the Bandits - Lyn Powell of Tifton; second place went to Jack’s Racks – J. Fawn of Tifton; third place: Jethros Cooking Crew - Jeff Schramm of Richland; and fourth place: Lightning Strike BBQ- David Huckaby of Adel.

In the Ancillary category, prize levels were $100, $75 and $50. In Anything But Sauce, first place went to the Smoke Shack – Scott McDaniel of North Augusta, S.C.; second place: The Low Country Longshots - Howard Harris of Vienna; and third place: Dixie Que – Rick Godfrey of Vienna.

First place Sweet Tea went to Smokers and the Bandits - Lyn Powell of Tifton; second place: Jethros Cooking Crew - Jeff Schramm of Richland; and third place: Jack’s Old South - David Hair of Vienna.

First place Stew went to Boggy Pond BBQ Brigade - Buster Dunn of Moultrie; second place: Jim and Sat’s BBQ – Jim Kelley of Vienna; and Third place: Hilton Garden Inn – Kas Asbury of Tifton.

Chicken first place went to Bubba Grills - Lonnie Smith of Haddock.; second place: Smoke Shack Barbecue – Scott McDaniel of North Augusta, S.C.; and third place: Lightning Strike BBQ - David Huckaby of Adel.

“I think our first MBN Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival was a success!” said Festival Coordinator Fran Kinchen, who serves as Promotion Coordinator for the City of Tifton Main Street Program. “We’ve received nothing but good comments. I was also glad to see that our very own Tifton cooks were winners. I was happy to see this event come to town. and next year promises to be even bigger.”

In the skateboarding competition held as part of the festival entertainment on Saturday, Sept. 19, Brandon Bass of Ashburn took first place; Matt Berkowitz of Omega, second; and Chris Molina Jr. of Tifton, third. Betty Jane’s Skate Shop of Ludowici donated a complete skateboard for the first- place prize and decks for second and third place. They also donated a complete Chet Thomas skateboard for donations, which raised about $150 during the event.