HAYSVILLE – Seven teams from four schools converged in the Campus High School parking lot on Saturday for the first-ever Kansas high school state barbecue competition.

In addition to the high school teams, there was a separate open competition that drew six teams.

The event was held under the auspices of the National High School BBQ Association, and it was a qualifying event for this year’s national contest, which will be held in Branson, Mo., in June.

Two Campus teams competed, as did two teams from Inman, two teams from Iola and a team from Gardner-Edgerton High School.

The Notorious P.I.G., one of the Campus teams, was named as grand champion and became the first ever Kansas High School BBQ Association state champion. The other Campus team, Grillin Like A Villian, did not place in the top five but also will be going to the national contest.

All seven teams met the requirements to advance.

The reserve champion was Knights of the Dinner Table from Inman; third place went to Underhogs Blue of Iola; Trailblazers of Gardner-Edgerton were fourth; and the Underdogs Gold of Iola finished fifth. Licensed to Grill, also of Inman, was the final national qualifier.

Culinary instructor Brooke Ward said each team competed in five categories: St. Louis rib, pork chop, skirt steak tacos, whole chicken, and meat chili. She said the competition started with an idea from her culinary team students back in August after attending an FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) event in Denver.

“They decided we needed a barbecue event,” Ward said.

There was no state director, so that role went to Ward. However, Campus High junior Cerina Brandt took on much of the work of putting the contest together. She coordinated donations for both of the Campus teams and for the overall event.

“She did a phenomenal job,” Ward said.

Roughly 300 people were in attendance on Saturday. They were not able to sample any of the entries – that was reserved for the judges. However, they could watch and visit with the teams, and a concession truck was available.

There was no regional competition. That meant any Kansas team could enter if they had a national charter. The teams will compete June 6-10 in Branson.

Campus also will host the 2025 state contest.

The Notorious P.I.G. team members who were crowned Kansas State Grand Champions are Ava Marrs, Chris VanDyke, Kylie Kennedy, Connor Pedrow and Gabby Perry. Grillin Like a Villain team members are Brandt Smith, Valisity McLain, Kennady Hammann, Addison Jensen and Cerina Brandt.

The six open class teams were Ditton and Reece, featuring Campus teachers Jacob Ditton and Casey Reece; Yardbird and Broken Ribs; Grillin the Most; Bubba’s BBQ Nation, featuring Campus High senior Josh Beehler; Off the Rails Backyard BBQ, featuring a seventh grade student with a family member from Whitewater; and Turn & Burn, which featured Campus alumni.