Brisket, and Community Spirit: Pics and Winners from the Hub City BBQ

The smoke has cleared, the grills have cooled, and the 26th Annual Hub City BBQ Cookoff is officially in the books! On Thursday, October 2nd, the Panhandle South Plains Fairgrounds turned into one big backyard party—Lubbock style!

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Presented by West Texas Land Guys and supported by United Supermarkets, the event brought together nearly 100 cooking teams and thousands of hungry Red Raiders, families, and BBQ fans. If you were anywhere near the fairgrounds, you probably smelled the brisket, ribs, and sausage drifting across town—a perfect reminder of why this tradition has lasted for more than two decades.

Music That Hit Just Right

It wouldn’t be a Hub City event without live music. Things kicked off at 5 p.m. with SAL & The Stonewall Hippies, who kept the crowd moving with a mix of originals and country favorites. Then at 6:30, The Spur 327 Band took the stage and delivered that classic Panhandle country sound we’re all proud to call our own.

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Between the food and the music, the fairgrounds were buzzing with energy from start to finish.

A Fresh Approach to Judging

This year, the cookoff introduced a brand-new judging system led by Melody Vinson, a Head Judge with the International Barbeque Cookers Association (IBCA). With her years of experience, Vinson promised a fair and exciting competition, balancing tradition with a few new twists.

Brisket, ribs, desserts, Bloody Marys, and more all went under the careful eyes (and taste buds) of the judges.

And the Winners Are…

Here’s a look at the teams that rose to the top this year:

Bloody Mary

1. The Outdoor Chef

2. Reed Beverage

3. West Texas Land Guys #3

4. Fast Signs

5. United Supermarkets

Pork Ribs

1. West Texas Land Guys #1

2. Yates Flooring #2

3. Realty Refined

4. Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages #1

5. Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages #2

Brisket

1. Armstrong Plumbing, Air & Electric

2. Lubbock Professional Fire Fighters

3. West Texas Land Guys – The Pups

4. Yates Flooring #2

5. LBK Roofing

Dessert

1. Yates Flooring #2

2. West Texas Land Guys #2

3. Overhead Door #3

4. Arbor Metals

5. Firetrol Protection Systems

Cook’s Choice

1. Great Plains Distributors

2. LBK Roofing

3. Rise Energy

4. Lamar Advertising

5. Yates Flooring #1

More Than Just BBQ

At the end of the day, the Hub City BBQ Cookoff was about more than food. It was about community. As Sidney Hopper from United Supermarkets put it:

Barbecue has a way of gathering folks around the table, and this cookoff does the same for Lubbock—bringing people together in celebration, camaraderie, and fun.

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And that’s exactly what it did once again this year. Big crowds, good music, great BBQ—and plenty of reasons to already look forward to next year.

Check out all the pics in the gallery below: