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springer mountain farms ignites the pit at memphis in may 2025

Springer Mountain Farms Ignites the Pit at Memphis in May 2025

Springer Mountain Farms made a sizzling statement at the 2025 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, where BBQ culture, culinary creativity, and community all came together for four unforgettable days. From award-winning wings to junior champs, Springer Mountain Farms Chicken showed up in full force to fuel the fun, flavor, and fierce competition.

🍗 Four Days of Sizzle with Chef Jonathan on his Big Green Egg

Our very own Chef Jonathan was a hit all weekend, cooking up Springer Mountain Farms chicken on his iconic Big Green Egg. Fans and foodies flocked to his demo station to savor fresh samples and pick up grilling tips from one of the best in the biz. Each day Chef Jonathan delivered flavor in every bite for the lucky taste testers that stopped by the Springer Mountain Farms site. His favorite cut to cook and sample is the juicy and flavorful boneless, skinless chicken thigh. He flavored the thighs each day with a different homemade seasoning or rub.

Chef Jonathan stands smiling under a festival tent at Memphis in May, wearing a blue shirt, sunglasses, and a straw hat, holding up a lid over a hot pan of Springer Mountain Farms chicken. Behind him, grills, banners, and cooking equipment are visible. Inset shows a close-up of seasoned grilled chicken in a metal serving pan.

Chef Jonathan cooking up delicious Springer Mountain Farms Boneless Skinless Thighs for attendees to sample.

🔥 Tasting the Competition with Heath Riles BBQ

Our friends with the Heath Riles BBQ team didn’t just bring the heat, they won it all. Two of our very own Chicken Cue Crew members, Ryan Suydam from Only Cans Competition BBQ and Dan Wright from Take It Easy BBQ, are also sponsored by Heath Riles BBQ and were part of Heath’s crew for the event. They grilled up Springer Mountain Farms wings and chicken burgers, spiced to perfection using Heath's new rubs and sauces. Attendees devoured the samples in record time and raved about the perfect combination of our Simply Superior Chicken™ & Heath Riles BBQ new rubs and sauces.

Congratulations to Heath and his whole team for winning the big prize and finishing well in several of the ancillary categories.

🎉 Major Wins for Heath Riles BBQ:

  • 2025 Grand Champion
  • Ribs Champion
  • Hot Wings - 2nd Place 
  • Poultry - 11th Place

Collage highlighting the Heath Riles BBQ team’s success at Memphis in May 2025. Center: The team poses with oversized checks and awards in front of the winner’s backdrop under a banner that reads "2025 Grand Champion." Top left: Team members proudly hold the 2nd place Hot Wing trophy. Bottom left: Glazed hot wings lined up neatly on a bed of greens. Top right: Springer Mountain Farms chicken thighs with a shiny BBQ glaze. Bottom right: A team member dips a chicken wing in sauce. Heath Riles BBQ took Grand Champion, Rib Champion, and used Springer Mountain Farms Chicken to win 2nd place Hot Wing and 11th place Poultry.

🏆Other Honorable Mentions for our Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Cue Crew members competing at Memphis In May:

Willingham's - 4th in Poultry : Head Pitmaster, Paul Holden is a restaurant partner with Big Shanty BBQ in Kennesaw, GA and had one of our Cue Crew members, Chef Phillip Dell, assisting with cooking for the event.

Rum Runners BBQ - Rob & Amy Dopp of Rum Runners BBQ team competed with 2024 Grand Champions, The Shed BBQ, with an 18th place finish in wings but best of all was the 3rd place finish by their son, Brasy, in the Junior Chicken category.

Ruthless Hogs BBQ - Kaleb and team were the only Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Cue Crew to compete fully in the Memphis in May competition. We had a flaming good time hanging out with them and being there for some of their turn ins, especially the adorable and delicious Chicken Pot Pie Piggies entered into the Poultry category by Kaleb's mom, Laura.

Ruthless Hogs BBQ competition setup at Memphis in May, featuring a red-and-white tent with signage reading “Get the Smoke. Burn the Shells.” and a fenced cooking area surrounded by bags of charcoal. To the right, two turn-in boxes are shown: the top contains neatly arranged, saucy hot wings on a bed of lettuce; the bottom showcases whimsical chicken pot pies shaped like small pigs, complete with eyes and snouts, for their poultry category submission.

To the left, Ruthless Hogs BBQ competition setup at Memphis in May. To the right, two turn-in boxes: the top contains their hot wing entry of Smoke-a-fried Wings; the bottom showcases whimsical chicken pot pies shaped like small pigs, complete with eyes and snouts, for their poultry category submission.

🧒 Supporting the Next Generation of Pitmasters: Kid's Q

Springer Mountain Farms was proud to sponsor the Kid's Q Chicken Category, supplying drumsticks to young competitors as they showcased their BBQ skills. The creativity and heart these juniors brought to the grill were truly inspiring.

Junior Chicken Champion:

KB’s Outdoor Kitchen – congratulations on the big win!

Three images of junior competitors at the Memphis in May 2025 Kid’s Q event. Left: A young boy in an apron speaks with Tony Lane from The Dude Network while being filmed; a woman crouches nearby, smiling. Center: A teenage competitor in a black Turkey Smoke shirt injects marinade into Springer Mountain Farms chicken. Right: Tony Lane interviews two older junior contestants in front of their tent, one smiling proudly while wearing a blue apron labeled "GRILLIN’ Wildcats."

(Left to Right) The youngest Junior Competitor (age 6) being interviewed by Tony Lane from The Dude Network; center image of Brady from Rum Runners BBQ; on the right, Tony interviews 2 local Memphis culinary high school students competing for the first time at Memphis in May.

Three winning teams proudly pose with oversized checks and trophies in front of the Memphis in May 2025 backdrop. Left: The "Anything But Poultry" champions, Wicker's, celebrate with a Springer Mountain Farms mascot. Center: The Hot Wing champions, Cotton Pickin Porkers, hold their check and awards as a group. Right: The Junior Chicken Champion from KB’s Outdoor Kitchen holds a trophy and check, smiling solo in front of the event signage.

🍗 Elevating the Ancillaries: Hot Wings & Poultry

As proud sponsors of the Anything But Poultry category, we helped shine a light on creativity beyond the traditional cuts. We also co-sponsored the Hot Wing Ancillary Competition, where spice met innovation.

Notable Ancillary Winners:

  • Hot Wings Champion: Cotton Pickin Porkers

  • Poultry Champion: Wicker’s

We want to extend a massive congratulations to all of our Springer Mountain Farms Cue Crew teams that participated this year. Your dedication, passion, and BBQ brilliance help make this event one of the best in the country.

🏆 Memphis in May 2025: Official Results Highlights

World Championship:

  • Grand Champion: Heath Riles BBQ

  • Ribs Champion: Heath Riles BBQ

  • Shoulder Champion: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q

  • Whole Hog Champion: Will Be Que BBQ

  • Patio Porkers: Tri-Star Porkers

Other Ancillary Champions:

  • Turkey Smoke: Swine & Dine

  • Seafood: Redneck BBQ Express

  • Beef: Come and Eat It

  • Exotic: Crosstown Neighborhood BBQ Cooking Team

  • Sauces (Tomato, Mustard, Vinegar): Boars Night Out BBQ, Smoke BBQ Team, Woods Custom Cookers

  • Best Booth & Piggie Idol: Swine & Dine

  • Best T-Shirt: Too Sauced to Pork

Junior Contest:

  • Grand Champion & Steak: Give ‘Em Hell

  • Chicken & Pork Chop: KB’s Outdoor Kitchen

  • Dessert: XTOWNQ

Want to taste what all the buzz is about? Try Springer Mountain Farms Simply Superior Chicken™, trusted by champions and backyard pitmasters alike.

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