On Saturday, 14 March, 16 cooking teams competed for the Grand Champion Trophy (The Commander's Cup) during the Cooking with the Vets BBQ Competition at the American Legion in Cartersville. Judges meticulously graded each competitor based on Appearance, Taste and Tenderness in three categories; Chicken, Ribs and Pork. Finally, a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion (2nd place) were crowned. The winner in the Chicken category was "Peckerwood Country Club". "Scott's Smoke Shack" was the winner in the Ribs category. "A Guy & A Grill" was the winner in the Pork catergory. "Scott's Smoke Shack" was also the winner of the Grand Champion Trophy. "Peckerwood Country Club" won Reserve Grand Champion. And finally, the most award that brings the public, "The Peoples Choice" was won by "Smokehouse of Payne". This year the competitiors had an additional side bet event called the "Wild Child" which Cluckin' Crazy BBQ won.

The Trophies

Category Winners

Peckerwood CC (Chicken & Reserve Grand Champion), A Guy & A Grill (Pork), Scott's Smoke Shack (Ribs & Grand Champion)

Smokehouse of Payne (People's Choice) Cluckin' Crazy BBQ (Wild Child)

Chicken

1st Place- Peckerwood Country Club

2nd Place- Cluckin' Crazy BBQ

3rd Place- Bunch of Butts

Ribs

1st Place- Scott's Smoke Shack

2nd Place- Bunch of Butts

3rd Place- Peckerwood Country Club

Pork

1st Place- A Guy & A Grill

2nd Place- Scott's Smoke Shack

3rd Place- Cluckin' Crazy BBQ

Grand Champion

Scott's Smoke Shack

Reserve Grand Champion

Peckerwood Country Club

People's Choice

Smokehouse of Payne

Wild Child

Cluckin' Crazy BBQ

Post 42 Radio Club

Visit from the State Commander

Bouncy House for the Kids was a hit!

The Cooking Teams

Rollin' Smoke Scott's Smoke Shack Deep South 2.0

Bunch of Butts Broken Bones Delta Swine

Piggin' Out BBQ Huckleberry BBQ Mr. G's Que

Cluckin' Crazy BBQ Smoked Up A Guy & A Grill

Smokehouse of Payne The Fat Guyz Peckerwood Country Club

Bigback BBQ

Highlights from 2025 event.

The Third Annual "Cooking with the Vets"

BBQ Competition was held on Saturday, 15 March 2025

Cooking with the Vets

On Saturday, 15 March, fourteen cooking teams competed for the Grand Champion Trophy during the Cooking with the Vets BBQ Competition at the American Legion in Cartersville. The competition was fierce. Twelve judges, including two celebrity judges meticulously graded each competitor based on Appearance, Taste and Tenderness in three categories; Chicken, Ribs and Pork. Finally, a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion were crowned. The winner in the Chicken category was "Clucken Crazy". "Peckerwood Country Club" was the winner in the Pork and the Ribs category. "Cluckin Crazy" was the Reserve Grand Champion and "Peckerwood Country Club" was the winner, for the third year in a row, of Grand Champion Trophy. And finally, the most coveted award, "The Peoples Choice" was "Uncommon Que".

Peckerwood Country Club wins the Grand Champion Cluckin Crazy wins the Reserve Grand Champion

Chicken

First Place - "Cluckin Crazy"

Second Place - "Piggin Out"

Third Place - "Huckleberry"

Ribs

First Place - "Peckerwood Country Club"

Second Place - "Huckleberry"

Third Place - "Smoked Up"

Pork

First Place - "Peckerwood Country Club"

Second Place - "Cluckin Crazy"

Third Place - "A Guy and a Grill"

Hundreds of Bartow County resdients flocked to the American Legion to taste test the various BBQ offerrings, ride in a Humvee, throw Axes, ride in a Helicopter or taste the various offerrings from the numerous food vendors on site. Blue Ridge Helicopter Tours conducted over thirty trips to Lake Alatoona and back for willing customers. American Legion drivers thrilled almost 200 residents touring the grounds on an exciting off-road course in our 1986 Humvee. Hundreds refined and practiced their axe throwing skills on the "Watch Your Axe" portable axe Cage. Other residents focused on winning various raffles, as they waited for the final BBQ results to come in. Still others danced to the tunes of our DJ and Solo music performer. The storm held off just long enough for a great event, with the best public turnout yet.

We are blessed to live in Bartow County, a Veteran friendly community. Thanks to all our supporters and sponsors, Bartow County residents, Competitors, Vendors, and Cass Junior ROTC and local Civil Air Patrol. Special thanks to over a dozen generous local sponsors (listed on our Sponsor page), our Judges and finally the entire American Legion team of Legionaires, Sons of the American Legion and Auxiliary. Look for our Fourth Annual Cooking with the Vets BBQ Competition in May 2026.

Free Humvee Rides!

Helicopter Rides from Blue Ridge Tours

The Winners

Vendors

Crowds and activities

Legion Activities

Judges at work

Just Fun