Competition barbecue heats up in the Fayetteville area: What's next for local pitmasters?

The Fayetteville area might not have the same barbecue reputation enjoyed by the likes of Lexington, Goldsboro and other spots, but the local barbecue scene is ablaze.

Even as two well-known Fayetteville barbecue restaurants recently closed, competition barbecue continues to grow in the city.

The next few months will bring new and returning competitions to the Fayetteville area as well as a certification class for barbecue judges. Plus, one Fayetteville pitmaster aims to represent the city at a world championship in the spring.

Here are the events that barbecue lovers and local pitmasters can look forward to.

Vicious Pig BBQ Throwdown returns to Stedman

Barbecue teams from around the Southeast are gearing up for the Vicious Pig BBQ Throwdown in Stedman, now in its fourth year.

Slated for Nov. 10-11 at 2630 Wade-Stedman Road, on organizer Bobby Brinson's land, about 20 teams will compete in three meat categories for the chance to win cash and trophies in each category and overall.

The grand champion will also be invited to compete at the Southern BBQ Network Invitational next year, spokesperson Mike Wright said, which has a grand prize of over $10,000.

Sanctioned by the Southern BBQ Network, who is providing judges, the festivities in Stedman start Nov. 10 with a chicken wing cook-off, organizer Bobby Brinson said. The following day, teams will prepare pulled pork and pork ribs.

The event is open to the public, Brinson said, and attendees can purchase barbecue plates and food from other vendors, shop at arts and crafts tents, enter giveaways and enjoy a live DJ. Proceeds benefit the Veterans Golfers Association.

Team registration is $200. Contact Brinson at 910-635-7617 to enter.

Southern BBQ Network judge certification class

The Southern BBQ Network, which has provided trained judges for barbecue competitions raising funds for charitable causes in the Carolinas and Georgia since 2010, is offering a judge certification class in Stedman on Nov. 10.

Participants will learn how to judge pulled pork, ribs, chicken and brisket according to a point system that evaluates appearance, aroma, taste and texture.

The three-hour class is $60, which includes Southern BBQ Network membership dues through 2024, Wright said.

Time and location have yet to be determined.

Related: These Fayetteville restaurants have recently announced they're closing

Barbecue showdown could come to Spring Lake

Bruce Yeomans, owner of Noth'n Fancy food truck and organizer of the Black BBQ Cook-Off, said he hopes to bring a barbecue competition to Spring Lake.

While the exact date has yet to be determined, Yeomans said he is targeting February or March.

Mayor Kia Anthony said the strong showing of Spring Lake native William Wright of SLFATBOYZBBQ at the Black BBQ Cook-Off in August — three trophies, including second place overall — is what sparked the idea for a competition in Spring Lake.

“We would love to be able to showcase some of our local food trucks and the talent in Spring Lake,” Anthony said.

Wright said the event could work hand-in-hand with the town’s efforts to bring new life to its Main Street.

“I'm ready for it,” he said. “Spring Lake needs the attention.”

Fayetteville’s Slow Burn BBQ aims to compete on the world stage

One Fayetteville team is gearing up to compete in May 2024 in the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, a four-day competition held in Memphis, Tennessee, that's been called one of the most prestigious barbecue contests.

Slow Burn BBQ, which earned first place in brisket and placed third overall at the recent Black BBQ Cook-Off, is going through the application process for an invite to the competition. The team is led by Carlos Jones, who has two decades of barbecue experience.

A variety of different teams are selected to compete, he said, from superstars known across the nation to local pitmasters. He feels confident that he will get an invite, he said.

Rallying behind Jones is a group of about 20 Fayetteville-area barbecue competitors who have confidence that he will represent the city well, Yeomans said.

Many of them will travel alongside Slow Burn BBQ to provide support for the team throughout the competition, Yeomans said.

Black BBQ Cook-Off date announced for next year

The third annual Black BBQ Cook-Off is slated for Aug. 17, 2024, Yeomans said, though the venue has yet to be determined. While the event has outgrown Murchison Marketplace, he said, he does not want to move the competition from Murchison Road.

He said he is considering partnering with Fayetteville State University to host the event.

Related: Meet the pitmasters competing at Fayetteville's Black BBQ Cook Off

In case you missed it: Black BBQ Cook-Off winners

On Aug. 19 at Murchison Marketplace, the Black BBQ Cook-Off hosted 18 barbecue teams, who cooked pork ribs, chicken thighs and brisket for a chance to win trophies and cash.

Here are the winners:

Brisket

First place: Slow Burn BBQ

Second place: Mac’s Slow Smoke BBQ

Third place: Up in Smoke BBQ

Chicken

First place: In the Army Que

Second place: Big Bear’s BBQ

Third place: SLFATBOYZBBQ

Ribs

First place: SLFATBOYZBBQ

Second place: Red White and Blue BBQ

Third place: In the Army Que

Overall

First place: In the Army Que

Second place: SLFATBOYZBBQ

Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville-area barbecue competitions to watch in 2023 and 2024