Swamp Boys History

Competition & Events
'08 '07 '06 '05 '04

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Hurricane Charley
&
Charley Relief Efforts

VISIT OUR SPONSORS:

Phone 863-206-9363

Team History

I began barbecuing when I was 17 (1979). I started having an annual party I called "Rob's Backyard BBQ", & I would bury pork roasts in a bed of oak coals, roast a bushel or 2 of oysters & corn on the cob, get a keg of beer, & have all my friends over for a day long party. Not a whole lot has changed since then.

In September of 2003, I was invited by the president of the Florida BBQ Association, Joby Stanaland, to experience competition barbecue firsthand by hanging out with his team, The Dixie Boys. The event was the FBA's "Fun Cook". The Dixie Boys won Grand Champion at that event, I begged my way onto the team, & I learned most of what I know today about competition barbecue. We competed in about 13 events the next year, & we finished in the Top 5 for 2003, & 2nd place overall for 2004.

The Swamp Boys BBQ Team consists of my wife Amy, our best friends Tammy, Robin, Woody, & myself. I am responsible for everything on the competition & cooking side, and my Swamp Babes are in charge of Customer Relations and Team Support. I have learned a lot about competition barbecue from The Dixie Boys, and enjoy using that information, along with my own techniques and styles, to see how I stack up against the other guys. My first solo competition barbecue event came January 29-31, 2004 at the 8th Annual Lakeland Pig Fest . Entered in the Backyard Division, the Swamp Boys took a 5th Place in Chicken, a 5th Place in Ribs, a 1st Place in Pork, and won Grand Champion overall. There were 42 teams entered, making it the largest KCBS Backyard Competition ever in the United States at the time. Now I'm hooked. I compete exclusively on my own now as Swamp Boys BBQ Team, & am the Secretary for the FBA. In 2006 we finished 4th in the FBA; 2007 we were 2nd in the FBA & 10th Nationally.

It's not cheap to compete in barbecue cook offs. If you or your company would be interested in helping to offset my costs, check out my Sponsors & Sponsorships page to see what I can offer you in exchange for your support.