Frenship High School Culinary students competed in the very first Regional Texas High School BBQ Cooker Association Contest and worked with professional pit masters at Texas Tech University. Two teams, “Netflix & Grill” and “Come & Taste It,” competed in various categories and put their BBQ skills to the test.
The Texas Tech Meat Science Department hosted the competition and also offered a day-long “BBQ 101” course on Friday. Students learned how to execute different BBQ techniques and all about different meats, spices and sauces, smoke flavors and more.
Saturday’s competition started bright and early for the students with fires being lit by 5 AM and lasted 14 hours with steak, chicken, brisket, pork ribs, beans and dessert all being prepped, cooked and turned in for judging. Students were provided with a 20×20 space to work in and were allowed to only have their coaches there to cheer them on.
The teams received tremendous support from Tech Management Oil Field Chemicals and Services who sponsored the teams with time and supplies. “Without the help of Mr. Bryan Gordon and his company, we would not have been able to compete,” said Culinary teacher Emily Funk.
Funk said the teams did a fantastic job timing their turn-ins and came out in the top 10 teams who qualified for state-level competition in Burnett in May.
“Mrs. Michelle Gordon and I are very proud of our students for doing so well their very first time competing,” Funk said, “and for most, the very first time barbecuing!”
Results for both teams are below:
Team Come & Taste It
- Chicken-3rd
- Ribs-6th
- Brisket-6th
- Steak-6th
- Dessert-10th
- Beans-12th
- Overall-7th
Team Netflix & Grill
- Chicken-2nd
- Ribs-16th
- Brisket-14th
- Steak-12th
- Dessert-8th
- Beans-8th
- Overall-10th