By Devonte Demby

VIDALIA — As Ann Westmoreland planned for the 2014 Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown, she knew her father would be watching from above.

The sweet smell of barbeque took the Miss-Lou by storm Saturday when more than 30 teams from across the country competed to see who was the best in a variety of categories including chicken, pork butt, pork ribs, beef brisket and sauce.

Although Westmoreland was more than happy with Saturday’s event, she found planning it stressful at times.

“I put a lot of heart into this because of my dad,” Westmoreland said. “He would always compete.”

Westmoreland lost her father, Pete Westmoreland, two years ago.

“People knew how much daddy liked to cook for competitions and charities,” Westmoreland said.

Those who knew Pete began to send memorials to the Throwdown.

“Two years ago, the sauce category was recognized in memory of my dad, because of the memorials that were sent in,” Westmoreland said.

Last year during the annual event, the sauce category was not in memory of Westmoreland’s father. However, it returned for this year’s event.

“Announcing that category this year in memory of my dad was wonderful to me,” Westmoreland said. “That’s my way of carrying my daddy’s legacy on. He will always be my best friend and hero.”

No area team walked away with bragging rights for the best barbeque this year. That was awarded to the team “South Pork” comprised of Scott and Suzanne Burton of Madison, Ala.

Madison is six hours away from Vidalia, but the Burtons found their way to Concordia Parish. And with them came amazing barbeque.

“South Pork” won overall, but did not place first in any of the five categories.

“Showing up in all categories is the secret to winning the whole thing,” Scott said.

Scott and Suzanne thought that their pork would be their downfall, however, Scott and Suzanne’s pork placed second in the pork category.

“Consistency was our key,” Suzanne said.

When it was time to prepare their food before the competition, Scott and Suzanne were a day late because of a flat tire.

“We got started 18 hours late in this contest,” Scott said. “We had to do everything last minute.”

Traveling and competing in contests has become a year-round event for Scott and Suzanne.

Last year, Scott and Suzanne participated in 27 competitions, and the team was the 2011 chicken team of the year in the KCBS.

“We plan on coming back next year,” Scott said. “They’re good people in Louisiana.”

Winners in the following categories were:

Overall category

-South Pork

-Give it to God

-Team Enoserv

 

Chicken category

-Lil John’s BBQ

-Big Whit and the Boys

-Cuz’s Custom Cooking

 

Pork Ribs

-Team Enoserv

-Give it to God

-Liberty BBQ.

 

Pork Butt

-The Blue Bloods

-South Pork

-Republic of Texas Cookers

 

Brisket

-Big Whit and the Boys

-Smokin Sober Sometimes

-South Pork

 

Sauce

-Liberty BBQ

-Give it to God

-Cuz’s Custom Cooking