Smoke, Spice, and Scholarship
Over the course of two days, teams competed for over $4,000 in prizes across ten categories, including Brisket, Spare Ribs, and Chicken—plus a lineup of crowd-pleasing “Jackpot” contests featuring Chili, Queso, Margaritas, Desserts, Beans, Salsa, Bloody Marys, and Cook’s Choice entries.
Competition was fierce but friendly, with judges using a double-masked system to ensure fairness. The Grand Champion and Reserve Champion were crowned Saturday afternoon, with 50% of all Jackpot winnings donated directly back to the NKBA Scholarship Fund.
In true Texas fashion, Friday night turned into a lively community gathering as guests enjoyed live music, BBQ tastings, and a BYOB social that ran late into the evening. Attendees were encouraged to “bring plenty of food and drink to share,” creating an atmosphere that was equal parts competition and family reunion.
A Community of Support
The event’s success was made possible by the generous support of sponsors, including Dacor, Ferguson Home, JennAir, Fisher & Paykel, Moen, Samsung, and TOTO, as well as numerous local partners and NKBA members.
Sponsorship levels ranged from Event and Awards Sponsors to Gold and Silver Raffle Partners, ensuring companies of all sizes could participate in supporting education and workforce development.
“Every brand that contributed helped make this vision a reality,” McNamara added. “This was a true team effort from our industry, and we’re incredibly grateful.”
A Tradition in the Making
With dozens of competitors, hundreds of attendees, and thousands of dollars raised for education, the first-ever NKBA Alamo City BBQ Cookoff set a high bar for future years.
The chapter has already begun planning next year’s event, with even more opportunities for local businesses, students, and community members to get involved.
“This was just the beginning,” said McNamara. “We proved that when our industry comes together, we can have a great time—and make a real impact.”