Boots, Brews and BBQ Fundraiser Grows In Attendance, Adds Contest

A new competition, more competing teams and greater attendance highlighted the second Boots, Brews and BBQ event held this spring.

The fundraising event hosted by U of A's Department of Animal Science crowns the Arkansas state barbecue champion and is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Association.

This year, 38 teams from seven states and Canada competed with Munny's Stove from Wichita, Kansas, winning the Arkansas state title.

BBQ Maestros was the Reserve Grand Champion. Petie's Smokin Pit BBQ won the brisket division, Rooters-N-Tooters won the chicken category, Meat Me in St. Louis the ribs contest and Hollow Q the pork division.

New this year was a Boss Hawg Ribeye Steak Cooking Contest voted on by a panel of celebrity judges. Man Meat BBQ from Stilwell, Kansas, was the winner.

The celebrity judges were:

• David Bazzel, former Razorback football linebacker and 103.7 The Buzz radio and KATV-TV media personality;
• Alan Bryan, managing counsel with Walmart;
• Jeff Edwards, dean of U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences;
• Deacue Fields, vice president for agriculture with the UA System Division of Agriculture; and
• Taylor Priest, 2025 Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks.

"The momentum behind Boots, Brews and BBQ continues to build each year, and this year's expansion from the new Boss Hawg contest to broader participation from the community and sponsors, reflects the excitement people have in being part of something that's growing so quickly and meaningfully," said Mike Looper, head of the Department of Animal Science.

There was also a Tyson Foods People's Choice Pulled Pork contest with Partners-in-Swine from Springdale coming in first and winning $150, Mr. BBQ from Cave Springs and winning $100, and Better Than Tim from Broken Bow, Oklahoma, placing third and earning $50.

The event, held March 13-14 at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, also included barbecue demonstrations from Grant Hall with Ridgewood Brothers BBQ in Russellville, a live auction, and live music from Ozark Riviera as well as Arlen and the Professor.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Department of Animal Science in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Funds support the department's general scholarship fund and student competition teams in ranch horse, livestock judging, equine judging and meats quiz bowl.

"Animal science's involvement with this event highlights the strong connections between industry, community and education," says Looper. "Funds raised help create opportunities for our students and clubs to gain real-world experience, compete at a high level, and prepare for careers in animal science and beyond."

The event raised close to $10,000 for the scholarship fund and student teams, and drew an attendance around 250, both an increase over the first year.

Sponsors included the 808 Ranch, McBride Distributing, Signature Bank, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Health Plans of Arkansas, Frontier Trading Company, Springdale Tractor Company, P and K Equipment (Springdale) and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette Community Journalism Project.

The Third Annual Boots, Brews and BBQ event is already scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2027.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.