“ For many years I thought about having a barbecue or rib festival here ,” Williamson said . “ That ’ s been a thought for years , and this year we decided to do it . We are going to find out who is the best in Coshocton County and make them our pit master . So we ’ ve got some nice trophies for first place in each category : ribs , pulled pork and chicken . We ’ re trying to keep everything local . Buehler ’ s sponsored the meat . People were having fun last night . They came out , and they stayed .”

Coshocton residents Zack Noon and Trish Noon from LKN Barbeque said they spent the night in their truck .

Trish Noon said , “ He didn ’ t have any trouble sleeping in the truck , but I didn ’ t sleep very well . It was cold last night .”

From Newcomerstown , DJ Grewell

with Backyard Barbeque said this was his first year there .

“ I slept in the back seat of my truck , got up at 4 o ’ clock this morning and started the smoker ,” he said . “ I ’ ve been cooking since 4 a . m . I have a catering business , so I ’ m used to it . No secret recipe , I just inject the meat and let the smoker do the work . I babysit it , keep checking on it and make sure it is doing what it is supposed to do . I love cooking ; that ’ s my passion . First year , but I ’ d do it again . When I saw it on Facebook , I said , ‘ Well , it ’ s this close , and I ’ ve always wanted to do it .’ This is like a little community . Everyone is just walking around talking to each other . It ’ s a lot of fun . I would definitely do it again .”

Angie Robinson was first in the chili contest and People ’ s Choice winner . Best chicken went to the BackYard BBQ team of DJ Grewell and George

Poorman . Best ribs went to the McGarvey Back- Woodz team of Andrew Smart , Peyton McGarvey , Chad Schumaker and Tim Slusser . Best pulled pork went to the LKN BBQ

Submitted

Best chicken went to the BackYard BBQ team of DJ Grewell and George Poorman .

team of Zack and Trish Noon . Best overall and the 2023 pit master went to BackYard BBQ , DJ Grewell and George Poorman . Second place overall went to Michael Varns .

Submitted

Best overall and the 2023 pit master went to BackYard BBQ , DJ Grewell and George Poorman . Second place overall went to Michael Varns .