Welcome to Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. After a few weeks off, it’s great to back and launch into a new year of talking BBQ and kick it off with one of the great people in the competition world, Kelly Wertz from 4 Legs Up BBQ out of Great Bend, Kansas.

Kelly - with his signature western hat and cowboy boots - has been a mainstay on the competition circuit since 2003. The 2008 Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational champion tells us about how he got started, why 4 Legs Up might not have been a great name for a restaurant and his biggest mishap at turn-in time. We also discuss the new KCBS Strip Steak Series which Kelly helped put together.

We also welcome our buddy Richard Fergola of new show sponsor Fergolicious BBQ. In the first edition of a monthly segment we’re calling “Fergie Time” he tells us about upcoming classes, his new Smoke Show rub and some tips for getting the new BBQ year started whether you're a pro or backyard pitmaster.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the show 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 and Pro Technology Solutions.

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