Barbecue Master Meets Myron Mixon at Brenau BBQ Competition

Myron Mixon at the Brenau University BBQ Comp in Georgia

When I decided to drive down for the Brenau University BBQ Festival, I noticed that Myron Mixon would be there. He's a legend in BBQ and on Pitmasters on TV. Although I'm not the groupie type, I was hoping I'd get a chance to meet someone who does barbecue for a living. That's a pretty cool job huh?

If you're not familiar with Myron Mixon (gasp), then he's kind of the bad boy of the group on the TV show. He's always talking smack. But, some of my barbecue friends told me he's actually a good guy in person. I know how the media can "spin," so that made sense.

Jack's Old South Barbecue Team with Myron Mixon

First I'd note that Mixon is with Jack's Old South Barbecue Team on the comp circuit. Believe me, no single guy is setting up like this and pulling a full pig on and off a smoker on his own. That would be like white water rafting with only one guy in a six man boat. Or like when the boys were little and some company put me and two little elementary school boys in a big raft and let us go. I ended up under the raft jammed against a rock. No. Big time barbecue is a team sport.

I introduced myself to the team bouncer. Just kidding. I think I spoke first to a top level pitmaster and told him that I'm a freelance writer. Many people still seem to think that freelance means "out of work hack." WRONG. In any case, the guy you see sitting to the left in the chair read me the riot act. I should do this and than and not do that and . . . and . . . and

"I'm not trying to sound mean," said my new friend.

Being the wicked person I am and also being quick on my feet and with words, I said, "Ah, you must be Myron's brother."

This confused my new friend, because he does not look like Myron Mixon, and there would be no reason for me to draw that conclusion.

"Uh, no," said the pitmaster (and looking confused).

"Oh, I thought since you're being mean to me, you must be Myron's brother," I said. Now, I said this with a straight face and Southern grace. But, my pitmaster friend understood me and had to work hard at not looking amused. You know how guys look when they want to laugh but are just too macho to do so.

After that we were "good." This wasn't my first rodeo, and I'm not the type to be obnoxious (unless forced to be). I've never bothered or annoyed any barbecue team except maybe one. Some chick snapped at me once when I was standing way back and getting a photo. That's OK. I gave that team their due on placing second (and the rest of the crew really were nice), but I did not link them in the article. They sell grills; I don't sell anything. So, I didn't need a photo, but they could have used a link. Karma (-:

The pitmaster flagged me down and tipped me off that Myron was on site, so I was able to meet him and get a photo. See. I did charm the pitmaster with humor. And, I do understand that they do get jerks who suck up time and energy and get in the way. I don't do that. I'm in and out but available if someone has time to talk more.

Myron Mixon and Cyndi Allison

As you can see, Myron is a sport. I said "hi" and had my son shoot a photo. My Facebook friends were expecting me to have a Myron/Cyndi shot. I mean really . . . who wouldn't want to have a picture with the Barbecue Master? It's five minutes maybe and good publicity and free since barbecue is my hobby and not my job. I do write professionally, but Barbecue Master is just my baby where I can write what I want and in my own Southern voice. If I want to earn bucks, I do technical writing or dig ditches.

I can now attest that Myron Mixon is a really nice Southern guy. He does have a heart and manners. And, he really does kick butt. Well, really he kicked whole hog and won the Brenau top title this year. Congratulations Myron and Jack's Old South and especially my pitmaster friend who did not tell me his name (but I'd know him if I saw him). Someone needs to send me his name and tell him I thought he was adorable in that evil eye sort of way (-: Thanks pitmaster guy who tried hard not to like me. I just grow on people like that.

  Mixon Book and Sauces at Brenau Festival

As an added bonus, I got to meet Myron's wife and daughter. They were working a vendor booth with Myron's new barbecue book and sauces. You could get a pork sandwich too, but I was so full that I could hardly waddle so couldn't eat another bite of pork (or anything else) by this point.

Myron has a beautiful wife and daughter and both were delightfully friendly. It was a pleasure to chat with both ladies and to see the people that mean the most to Myron. I just wish I'd asked them for a photo, because you can't see much in this one )-:

I bought a bottle of Jack's Old South Tangy Sweet Rib Sauce. It has all kinds of fruits in there, and I can't wait to try it out. Could be a while though. I have an online class going and a trip to Missouri to meet up with my Winter Grillin friends. No. It's not winter. We hang all year round. Next week will be our first group face-to-face meet up and grill-a-thon.

Cyndi - enjoying her road tripping summer

Brenau Barbecue Festival Gainesville, Georgia - Supporting College Students

Brenau University 4th Annual Barbecue Championship Festival

I spent the weekend at the Brenau University BBQ Championship in Gainsville, Georgia. I'm a backyard griller and writer, but I enjoy hitting a couple of competitions every year. Usually I pick a local one, but when Jim Barco (who planned the event) told me that he graduated from the college where I teach and that the funds raised at this event would go toward scholarships for the students, I decided this was one I had to go check out.

Brenau University in Gainsville, Georgia

Brenau is a traditionally all girls' college but with a few males now that they have university status. My 22-year-old son had figured this out before we headed out. He's good about his research and also was a great note taker at this barbecue event.

As you can see above, Brenau is a beautiful campus. It's small and charming and looks like a safe and nice place to study.

 Brenau Students

I took some time to talk to a couple of students from Brenau - Daniella and Lindsay (from the volleyball team). They were both quite charming. The young ladies said that they were helping with the BBQ festival, because the money earned helps keep them in school. I'm sure my readers can appreciate that. College is expensive, and it's nice when we can help students out and even nicer when students are willing to spend break time pitching in to help themselves and their classmates.

  Robinson's Rumps Team Getting Pork Butts Ready for the Smoker

There usually aren't a whole lot of people at barbecue competitions the night before, because that's prep time. For me, it's my favorite time though, because the teams have time to chat and joke around. And, barbecue people do tend to be fun and funny.

I wandered around with my note pad and camera and checked out the prep and also some of the "anything butt" (grilled or smoked foods that don't involve pork). Teams were doing everything from smoked oysters and chicken wings to apple fritters and bacon wrapped chicken with hot peppers. They had an informal competition just for fun for that category with the fritters taking first prize.

Pull My Pork - Winnner of "The Most Fun" Award from Barbecue Master

My favorite group was Pull My Pork. Ryan (the guy in the middle) kept their tent rolicking and made my son and I feel like family. Ryan would be like your favorite brother and likely would get you into trouble but bail you out if he could.

Pull My Pork had the food and the beverages flowing while playing cornhole and just generally having a blast in the "Backyard Braggarts" (non-professional) comp team section. I kind of doubt they got any sleep over the weekend.

Ryan hooked me up with beer when I missed the beer wagon by about 15 minutes, and he talked me into buying one of his t-shirts (for a deal). What you can't see is that on the back it says, "We Like Our Pork Pulled and Our Butts Rubbed." Now I'm thinking I better get a sharpie pen and pencil in Pork and an arrow pointing at the Butt part. See what I was talking about. Ryan could sell ice to Eskimos and could get me in trouble with Momma.

Pull My Pork didn't win any of the smoking awards, but I give them top pick for being the most fun.

Southern Smoke Barbecue - First Timers

Another of my favorite teams in the backyard group was Southern Smoke Barbecue - a couple team as you can see. They had never entered a competition before and were excited but a little nervous. They gave my son and I samples, and I must say I thought they had the best chopped pork on the lot. That was just straight up on the meat - moist and lots of flavor. I never did figure out if they had a sauce or not, and I hated to ask with them being new and maybe they didn't have sauce (or maybe they did) - still a mystery to me. In any case, they should have a prize for unsauced meat and for being the sweetest group in the field.

Bubba Grills Doctoring Up a Smoked Pig

There were professional teams at the Brenau compeition too. I watched them closely but didn't ask for any trade secrets. I could see, of course, that Bubba Grills butters up the whole hog. Yes. Those are huge chunks of butter you see. I don't even know where you buy butter chunks that big. Bubba Grills used some seasonings and a ton of bacon too. No wonder I can't drop any weight. I gained five pounds just taking the pictures.

Bubba Grills had the whole family out, or else they have a huge family (like ginormous). It looked like a family reunion back behind their work area from grandpa to an infant in a little recliner baby seat. They were right friendly, but don't step your foot back on their rug even an inch, or you will be sorry.

This group won first for pork shoulders - one of the three categories in the competition which is a Memphis BBQ Network sanctioned event.

Jack's Old South Barbecue with Myron Mixon

The overall winner at the Brenau was Jack's Old South Barbecue. You may know this group from TV where Myron Mixon is a junk talking guy who gives the other smokers grief. In person, he's really a nice guy, and his wife and daughter are delightful. I met them when I was buying a bottle of Mixon's BBQ sauce which I can't wait to try.

Skyline Contractors Took Overall in Backyard Braggarts

The overall champion for the Backyard Braggarts group was Skyline Contractors. They fed me some brisket the night before and were a real stand up group with a relaxed style. I talked to the young guy you see carving, and he told me he does roofing and lots of other home work. If he lived closer, I'd put him on speed dial. I certainly have some repair projects waiting.

Music and Other Fun at the Brenau BBQ Festival

I enjoyed music throughout the festival but especially after dark when things cooled down. It must have been close 100 degrees with our usual muggy air to go with it during the day. It was nice to kick back and relax a little and hear some good live tunes.

  Family Friendly - Lots of Fun for the Kids at Brenau

The Brenau BBQ Festival is a yearly event, and it's definately a good time for all ages. They had plenty of cool stuff for the kids to do including face painting. And, as you can see, these two little ones were having a blast making bubbles.

Barbecue Master Had a Great Time at the Brenau BBQ Festival and Competition

The weekend flew by. I had the chance to meet some wonderful barbecue people and left hot, tired, full, and happy. And, I picked up some cowboy boots and peaches on the way home. Hard to beat all that.

Thanks to Jim Barco for inviting me down to Brenau University and to eveyone for making it a special trip that I enjoyed with my son who just graduated from college last week. It's great to see a small community and college come together and do something nice that will benefit students.

Brenau BBQ Championship - Georgia - May 25-26 2012

Ribs on the Smoker at Brenau Barbecue Championship

"It's said of Southerners that we do not know strangers, rather people we haven't yet met," says Jim Barco, Senior Vice President of Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. He'll be meeting many old friends and new ones at the 4th annual Brenau BBQ Championship.

Jim dropped me an email after reading about my love of barbecue on the Catawba College website. That's where I teach, and it just happens to be where Jim graduated with a degree in business in 1977. He thought I might like to attend the college barbecue competition with the proceeds going to scholarships for kids in the area. Now, how could I pass that up?

Having been a student at Catawba College, Jim knows barbecue - the slow smoked kind that does not include burgers and hot dogs on the menu. The college is located right in the heart of North Carolina western or Lexington style barbecue country (slow smoked pork shoulders, chopped and served on a bun with a tangy vinegar sauce). He noted that it's the law that you love BBQ in North Carolina, and said: "I think the requirement is in the state constitution."

Officials at Brenau were not so sure about a barbecue fundraiser in the beginning, but now the event has become a campus favorite - getting larger every year. They even have TV barbecue superstar Myron Mixon on board for the competition, and you know he plans to win. And, I plan to snag Myron for a photo.

About the Brenau Barbecue Festival

The event is held on the Brenau campus. It's a small university with under 3000 students, but they open the doors to over 5000 people on barbecue weekend. Everyone pitches in, and it's kind of like a family reunion but a really big family.

The Memphis Barbecue Network sanctioned competitions is for both professional teams (like Dixie Que and Bubba Grills - 20 total) as well as back yard barbecuers (30 teams). Jim said the backyard barbecue guys (and girls) are welcome to practice at his house and year round. I'm sure he'd be fine with Myron dropping by and cranking out some barbecue ribs too.

The event this year kicks off on May 25 with music by Drippin' Wet. This is when the barbecue folks begin set up, prep, and dig in for a long night of smoker tending. Although I've never been a competition person (my area is home grilling/smoking and writing), I enjoy hanging out behind the scenes and gathering stories and photos.

Ready for a Day of Barbecue Fun at Brenau University

Saturday May 26th is the main event with the gates open at 10 am. In addition to the scoring and bragging rights (and barbecue guys are good about that), there's a full day of family fun including music, a classic car show, and lots of fun activities for the kids. Vendors are on hand with all kinds of yummy food, and you can also get handmade crafts (good early Christmas shopping opportunity for those who think ahead like that).

If you're in or close the Atlanta area, then Brenau is about 50 miles outside the city. It would be a good road trip and also means that more young people get a chance to go to college at one of the top 15-best higher education universities in terms of value according to U.S. News & World Report.

I'll be headed that way, and I hope my son can make it. He's getting really good with a camera, and I could use a shutterbug while I'm taking notes. If you see me there at the Brenau University Barbecue Competition, be sure to say "hi" and share some que stories.

Here is more information on the Brenau BBQ along with directions and a schedule.