WORLAND – Area locals prevailed in this year's 12th annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival, and this year's first-time organizer reflected on the event.

"I think it went very well. I was happy with all (of the 26) teams that showed up and the judges. Everything went as smooth as I could have asked for," Dave Paxton said.

Wyoming natives took home big prizes and Paxton said, "For the first time in the history of our event we had a Wyoming team that won grand champion with Smokin Hot Butt's Barbecue from Casper."

Paxton also said one of the locals won the Jim Blake Memorial Award. "Jim Blake was one of the people who started the barbecue festival years ago," Paxton said. "Jerrad Scott (of Worland) with Red Arrow Barbeque won that award and thought it was neat because he was a first-time competitor."

At the festival, one of the presenters talked about the late Dale Wagner and his dedication to the event while being the organizer for the past couple of years.

"Dale was big into the barbecue," Paxton said, adding and he had been with the committee for a lot of years and he ran thing the last couple of years.

"It was big shoes to fill with losing him and were actually going to ... name the mystery meat competition (he started last year) the Dale Wagner Award in his remembrance," Paxton said.

This year's mystery meat was a picnic cut pork shoulder and You Qued Me All Night Long Team with Matt Heath took first place.

Overall Paxton said, "It was a great event. Thanks to everyone that pitched in and helped out in our committee. Everyone pulled together and took care of everything they needed to do and the community came together and supported everything. It was pretty amazing. The weather was perfect. I couldn't have asked for anything better," Paxton said.

Paxton said he's in the event for the long haul. "I think everything I learned this year will help me make it smoother next year."

Tesia Galvan

Ashton Osborne, Brett Osborne, Tammy Corkill and little Kellyn Anderson of Smokin Hot Butt's Barbecue from Casper pose with all their awards from the 12th annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival. The group won grand champion Wyoming overall, third place in the chicken category, first place in the brisket category, fifth place in the pulled pork category and Wyoming High Point Champion.

Additional winners

Other results in this year's cooking competition include Burnin' Bob's Butts'N'Bones led by Bob Oldfield for best chicken. Got Smoke Barbecue with Amy and Will Wilson first place for best pork ribs. First place for best sauce was awarded to 12 Bar Blue's Que Team led by Leslie Cooke. The BS Barbecue Outlaws with Bob Stanfiel won best pork and Smokin' Hot Butts Barbecue Team won many awards including the Wyoming High Point Award, best brisket and overall grand champion.