WORLAND - In just its fourth year of competition and second at the Pepsi Wyoming BBQ State Championship & Bluegrass Festival American Heroes BBQ out of Glenrock took home the grand prize this year.

American Heroes is owned by Brad and Devonie Mueller but their children Austin and Bailey are learning the craft as both competed in the Kids Q with Bailey winning the event and Austin taking fifth.

American Heroes won the overall award with 694.8 total points, 170.83 in chicken, 174.84 in pork ribs, 171.97 in pork and 177.14 in brisket. American Heroes was also honored with the Wyoming High Point Overall award.

Brad Mueller said the first year of competition was in 2017 but they only competed in one event. This year they are on pace to compete in nine, next up is the Smokin' Soul Fest competition in Casper in October.

"Each year we grow a little more and find new techniques to make our product better," Mueller said.

Mueller, who grew up outside St. Louis, Missouri has been around barbecue his entire life. He moved to Wyoming in 2004, where he works as a police officer.

He first got involved in competitive barbecue as a Kansas City Barbecue Society Judge in 2015 and 2016 and then decided to compete himself in 2017.

Mueller said he will definitely be back in 2022 to defend his title, noting the Worland event is one of his favorite contests. "It is a great venue and great crowd," he said.

Mueller's favorite category of the four main KCBS categories (chicken, pork, ribs and brisket) is brisket. He said everyone will tell you it is the hardest meat to perfect and he likes that challenge.

"I'm getting it down," he said, and he is, taking first at Saturday's competition.

He was fourth overall in pork ribs, which was won by Swine and Stein, 12th in chicken, won by Smokin' Boxers; fifth in pork, won by Papa's Pit Crew.

American Heroes was second in the mystery meat, which was yellow pompano this year. Mueller said he made fish tacos. Smokin Hot Butts BBQ won the category, named in memory of former committee member Dale Wagner and presented by Wagner's wife, Angela.

In the sauce category, American Heroes was 12th with Burnin' the Bone BBQ taking first.

In other awards, Barr's BQ, headed by Kari Barr, won the Jim Blake Memorial Award for the Local High Point winner.

The Half Baked Hippies won People's Choice this year. Fifteen competitors provided pork samples for people to taste and vote.