PigMania Lebanon was the fourth & final event in the PigMania Master Series BBQ Competitions & Festivals. PigMania Events take place in Hilliard, Shelby, Lima, and Lebanon, Ohio. Organizers Dan & Ann Hurst are two of the most gracious hosts we’ve come across. Miami Valley Gaming opened its doors for this KCBS State Championship. Of the 46 Professional Competition BBQ teams that competed, three of them are among the top KCBS teams in the country.
This event is unique in that all 
46 cook teams along with the vendors were set up on the harness track. Next to the harness track in a grassy area was a terrific bandstand with tables for spectators to sit and listen to music while enjoying their food and beverages. And what could be better than eating BBQ, enjoying live music, drinking local beers, and then when the competition is over, going into the casino to try your luck on a few slot machines?
Among the teams that competed was Smokin Triggers, led by famed pitmaster Johnny Trigg. PigMania honored Johnny with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to competition BBQ. As always Johnny was cordial and made himself available to cook teams and fans alike!
It’s rare for a team to earn a perfect score of 180 in a category, but believe it, or not two perfect scores of 180 occurred at PigMania! Bo B Q BBQ took First Place in Pork Ribs with a 180, and Extra Mile BBQ maxed out in Pork category. Congrats to both teams!
PigMania’s Persistent PitMaster Award announced at PigMania Lebanon went to Grey Street BBQ. The team received the soon-to-be famed PigMania Championship Belt by generating the most points during all four PigMania competitions! Well Done!
Hats off to Slippery Pete’s BBQ for claiming Grand Champion with an astounding 704.6 score followed by Smoke Me Silly as the Reserve Grand Champion with a 697.7. Good job racking up those points!
A highlight of PigMania at least from the judges’ point of view was the Dessert competition. Just take a look at a few of the entries below! First Place went to Continental Barbeque Co., followed by Bo B Q BBQ and Historic BBQ. We’re not sure which entries below earned the top awards, but we wouldn’t turn any of them down, just saying!
Despite the torrential downpour that began shortly after the last turn-in, PigMania Lebanon was a huge success. Coordinators Dan and Ann Hurst know how to organize an excellent competition. Host Miami Valley Gaming and Racing offered a first-class venue for a BBQ competition with spectacular entertainment, thank you for having us! PigMania was a fun event for all.
Mike and Marcia
Sucks I had to drop out with bad health, COPD flare up. Brutal weather for me this summer.
Mike, I’ve known you for 6 or 7 years, why don’t I know Marcia??
Hey Scott, hope you’re doing better, missed you at PigMania. Marcia doesn’t judge but has found her passion in covering/photographing KCBS events.