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Local Barbecuers Cooking Up A Little Bit Of Fun
Linn County Teams Join Others At Louisburg’s National Night Out
By Kristen Waggener, kwaggener@miconews.com
Smoke filled the air behind Lee Watson and his 6-year-old daughter, Ashlyn.
The duo, with the support of some family and friends, had spent hours preparing and smoking their sausage, ribs, brisket and pulled pork for the judges to taste.
“It’s just for fun,” Watson says with a smile, as Ashlyn serves up a few pieces of brisket to passersby.
Competing under the name “Rose Belle Smokers,” the Linn Valley family joined more than 20 other teams, many of whom were from Linn County, for Louisburg’s National Night Out barbecue contest Saturday evening.
Watson, who entered every category he could, said even though barbecuing is more of a hobby for him, he’s entered many local contests, including ones in Mound City and La Cygne. He said he’s even been invited to the contest in Greeley later this year.
Though Watson freely admits his specialty is his pulled pork smothered in a home-made rub, what really stood out Saturday was his children’s involvement in the process.
Ashlyn was front and center, while Madison, 9, stayed in the background, making sure everything was stocked.
The two are the namesake of their father’s hobby, too, Watson said.
“I wanted to use their middle names,” he said. “Rose is Madison’s middle name, and Belle is Ashlyn’s.”
Across the way and down a few tents, the CCC Ranch team of Mound City worked hard to get the attention of the public, who were voting on the peoples’ choice winner that night.
The group — James Carter, Jeff Carter and Jay Dunn — stood proudly behind their meats and their unique sides.
“It’s our first year here, but we’ve competed at a lot of places,” James said. “We’ve placed every time we’ve entered this year.”
The specialty at CCC Ranch, which is named after the ranches in Linn and Johnson counties, is pork.
“It’s the rub and the sauce,” James said. “And our ribs are pretty good, too.”
The trio served up cheese potatoes, smoked potatoes and a vegetable medley in the open sides category — some of the more unique entries.
It took them eight hours to cook it all in a smoker.
“If we place here, we’ll be really happy,” Carter said.
Though winning Louisburg’s competition wasn’t in the cards for either team, their main goal was accomplished: making sure as many people as possible could taste their food and see the dedication put into it.
“Its all because we do it with love,” Watson said.
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The duo, with the support of some family and friends, had spent hours preparing and smoking their sausage, ribs, brisket and pulled pork for the judges to taste.
“It’s just for fun,” Watson says with a smile, as Ashlyn serves up a few pieces of brisket to passersby.
Competing under the name “Rose Belle Smokers,” the Linn Valley family joined more than 20 other teams, many of whom were from Linn County, for Louisburg’s National Night Out barbecue contest Saturday evening.
Watson, who entered every category he could, said even though barbecuing is more of a hobby for him, he’s entered many local contests, including ones in Mound City and La Cygne. He said he’s even been invited to the contest in Greeley later this year.
Though Watson freely admits his specialty is his pulled pork smothered in a home-made rub, what really stood out Saturday was his children’s involvement in the process.
Ashlyn was front and center, while Madison, 9, stayed in the background, making sure everything was stocked.
The two are the namesake of their father’s hobby, too, Watson said.
“I wanted to use their middle names,” he said. “Rose is Madison’s middle name, and Belle is Ashlyn’s.”
Across the way and down a few tents, the CCC Ranch team of Mound City worked hard to get the attention of the public, who were voting on the peoples’ choice winner that night.
The group — James Carter, Jeff Carter and Jay Dunn — stood proudly behind their meats and their unique sides.
“It’s our first year here, but we’ve competed at a lot of places,” James said. “We’ve placed every time we’ve entered this year.”
The specialty at CCC Ranch, which is named after the ranches in Linn and Johnson counties, is pork.
“It’s the rub and the sauce,” James said. “And our ribs are pretty good, too.”
The trio served up cheese potatoes, smoked potatoes and a vegetable medley in the open sides category — some of the more unique entries.
It took them eight hours to cook it all in a smoker.
“If we place here, we’ll be really happy,” Carter said.
Though winning Louisburg’s competition wasn’t in the cards for either team, their main goal was accomplished: making sure as many people as possible could taste their food and see the dedication put into it.
“Its all because we do it with love,” Watson said.