Pigmaster's Challenge

05/24/2026

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05/01/2026

🔥 Big news from KCBS! 🔥

Exciting developments for competition barbecue: the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational just became more accessible.

Effective retroactively to July 1, 2025, the minimum team requirement for second-year (and beyond) contests has been lowered from 25 teams to 20 teams. That means any Grand Champion from a qualifying event with at least 20 competing teams is now eligible for an invitation to the American Royal.

Why the change? Participation hasn’t fully rebounded since the pandemic, and contests nationwide are feeling the impact. This update helps open more doors—for teams chasing their shot at Kansas City and for organizers working to build strong, competitive events.

📊 By the numbers: up to 25 KCBS contests in the 2025 calendar year could be affected.
➡️ More qualifying events
➡️ More opportunities for teams
➡️ A stronger barbecue community

Please share this update with your contest teams and anyone involved in planning or promoting events.

❗️Note: The Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational minimum remains at 25 teams for second-year events—for now.

04/18/2026

2026 SCA Awards Ceremony

04/18/2026

Highlands Family Farm- Highlands Butchery has done it again! 🔥 Their ribeyes are absolutely top-notch—perfect for our SCA teams stepping into competition. These cooks don’t mess around when it comes to selecting their steaks, and it’s always a thrill watching them choose the one they believe will take home the grand prize. 🥩🏆

Quality matters, and it shows every time!

04/17/2026

Check out our beautiful custom Pigmaster SCA awards by Metawood Design Co.! They surprise us every year with amazing craftsmanship.

04/16/2026

🔥 PIGMASTER’S SCA COMPETITION – APRIL 18, 2026 🔥

Get ready for an incredible day of steak, smoke, and serious competition! 🥩🔥 Join us at Rutherford College for the Pigmaster’s SCA Competition, proudly featuring top talent from across the region and sanctioned by the Steak Cookoff Association.

📍 Location:
980 Malcolm Blvd, Connelly Springs, NC 28612

🚛 Contestant Info:
• Arrival no later than 9:00 AM Saturday
• Friday arrivals must be on-site by 5:00 PM
• Parking will be at Town Hall (limit 2 spaces per team)
• Limited water & electrical hookups available

Steaks are being supplied by Highlands Butchery!

👩‍🍳 Event Coordinator: Jessica Bargsley
👨‍🍳 SCA Contest Rep: Greg Cross

We appreciate your cooperation and can’t wait to see everyone for an unforgettable day of food, fun, and fierce competition! 🔥🥩

03/30/2026

Get ready for the 2026 Team Bean Triple Crown! We’re celebrating the full circle of North Carolina agriculture. From the high-quality soymeal that fuels our local livestock to the perfectly smoked BBQ on your plate, it all starts in the field.

We’re hitting the road to see who has what it takes to claim the title at three of NC’s premier competitions. Come see how we’re powering the best poultry and pork in the state!

Mark your calendars:
May 1–2: Bear-B-Q (New Bern, NC)
Sept 18–19: Pigmaster’s BBQ Challenge (Rutherford College, NC)
Oct 23–24: Foothills Smoke-Off Challenge (Lenoir, NC)

03/22/2026

Way to go… Noel Dana Kay!

Noel Kay had the opportunity to cook for some NASCAR greats yesterday at Darlington Raceway , including Darryl Waltrip , Donnie Allison, Jeff Hammond and more!

Using our Go Big or Go BBQ, LLC rubs and our Imperial Wagyu Beef briskets, and ribs, you know they had a great meal! Thanks for the opportunity to be apart of the day, Noel!

02/16/2026

🔥🥩 HEY STEAK COOKS — THIS ONE’S CALLING YOUR NAME! 🥩🔥

Saddle up and fire up those grills…

The Pigmaster’s Steak Cookoff is rolling into Rutherford College, NC on April 18, 2026 — and it’s an official 🏆 SCA World Championship Qualifier!

💰 Up to $3,300 in prize money
🥩 Top 10 get paid
🔥 Big steaks. Big flames. Big bragging rights.
👊 Dynamic payouts based on team count

Whether you’re chasing points, chasing checks, or just love the thrill of that turn-in window… this is your kind of Saturday.

Gather your crew. Load the smoker. Bring the heat.

📍 Connelly Springs, NC
🗓 April 18, 2026

👉 Spots won’t last — claim yours now:
🔗 STEAKCOOKOFFS.COM

Tag your steak family. Share with your grill crew.
Let’s pack this cookoff and make it legendary. 🔥🤠