America’s biggest grilling weekend is here and we hope everyone has a tremendous 4th of July weekend! On Episode 168 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with the Grand Champion of one of mid-America’s biggest KCBS competitions and get some education about a style of BBQ from the West Coast that is growing rapidly in popularity.

First up is Keith Nebel of Love 2 Q based in Desoto, Kansas. Keith is fresh off a big GC at the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, taking honors in a field of 164 teams. Keith tells us about how his BBQ journey began, some of the keys to success and what’s ahead.

Then we take a trip to the central coast of California to find out about Santa Maria-style cooking, a style that’s been around since the mid-1800s and is catching on across the land. What is Santa Maria-style cooking? Jaime Flores from the Santa Maria BBQ Festival does a great job of explaining the history, tastes and techniques.

The co-hosts also preview their July 4th weekend cooking plans, including a return to competition in northwest Arkansas for the KCBS Lowell Slow & Low Cookoff. Can the Tailgate Guys team find competition success? We’ll have a report next week. And if you’re in Lowell, stop by our location, say hello and trade stickers.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

We still have room for a couple of more sponsors. Contact me at [email protected] for more info. Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening!

#SmokeEmIfYouGotEm