The 14th Annual Iowa State BBQ Championships wrapped up Saturday afternoon at Marshalltown's Riverview Park with the sun shining.
A forecast that didn't seem to be on the championships' side cleared up by mid-afternoon's end and everyone was able to enjoy the last day of barbecue.
The final day of the championships consisted of the competition itself where more than 50 teams went head-to-head seeing who was the barbecue champion in five different categories: Brisket, chicken, pork shoulder, ribs and an optional dessert dish.
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T-R PHOTO BY LUKE STALZER
Steve Bryant, back left, accepts his banner and blue ribbon along with a check of over $2,000 after being crowned the 2012 Iowa State BBQ Champion at Riverview Park on Saturday. Over 50 teams competed for nearly $10,000 in prizes at the 14th annual event.
Contest Representative Lew Miller, of Marshalltown, said that there is one judge per team and they could not taste the same team more than once.
"The teams each get a number that they put on their box when they bring it to us," Miller said. "We then change the number so the judges don't know what team they're tasting."
The 51 judges traveled from all over the United States for the championships and are all certified judges through the Kansas City BBQ Society.
After the votes were tabulated, the teams gathered for the awards ceremony to see who would walk away with the nearly $10,000 worth of prizes.
Meadow Valley BBQ, from Ames, walked away with the title of champions at the 2012 Iowa State BBQ Championships, but this wasn't their first rodeo.
"We won in 2007 and now again today," said owner Steve Bryant.
Bryant said that his team has been coming to the championships in Marshalltown for all 14 years and enjoys it.
"We have a lot of fun and usually there's a good crowd," Bryant said. "We really enjoy being here."
Miller said that he loves seeing this event make its way to Marshalltown each year and it's a great thing for the community.
"This is the best barbecue south of the Iowa River," he said.