Hometown
Throwdown
The EffingHAM-JAM Hometown Throwdown invites amateur pit masters from all over the area to show off their skills and compete for prizes in several different BBQ categories. Blind judging by local community reps, Hometown Throwdown sponsors, and KCBS professional judges will begin Friday, July 18 in Effingham, IL at 4:00pm. Community tastings begins at 5:00pm.
We are actively accepting Hometown Throwdown teams, food and non-food vendors, volunteers, and sponsors.
Contest Rules and Information
- The Hometown Throwdown is open to local/amateur entrants only.
- There is a $150.00 entry fee to participate.
- One member of each team is to be trained and certified as an Illinois Food Handler.
- A Mandatory 'Cooks' Meeting will be help prior to the competition on Tuesday, July 8 at 5:00pm.
- Set-up begins at 6:00 AM on Friday, July 18.
For a full list of competition rules click here.
- Coors Lite Boys
- Southridge Smokers
2024 Hometown Throwdown Winners
- Grand Champion - John Boos & Co
- Top Hog Amateur - Wonkey Donkey
- Top Hog Corporate - John Boos & Co
- Side Dish - 1st Place - PearHead BBQ; 2nd Place - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
- Chicken - 1st Place - Porking Lot Smokers; 2nd Place - John Boos & Co.
- Ribs - 1st Place - The Saucy Dudes; 2nd Place - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
- Pork - 1st Place - The Saucy Dudes; 2nd Place - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
Past Event Winners
2024 Winner
Grand Champion: John Boos & Co
- Top Hog Corporate - John Boos & Co
- Top Hog Amateur - Wonkey Donkey
- Side Dish - 1st Place - PearHead BBQ; 2nd Place - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
- Chicken - 1st Place - Porking Lot Smokers; 2nd Place - John Boos & Co.
- Ribs - 1st Place - The Saucy Dudes; 2nd Place - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
- Pork - 1st Place - The Saucy Dudes; 2nd Place - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
2023 Winner
Grand Champion: Wonkey Donkey
- Top Hog Corporate - Holy Smokers Rub Co.
- Top Hog Amateur - Wonkey Donkey
- Chicken - 1st Place - Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd Place - Wonkey Donkey
- Pork - 1st Place - Wonkey Donkey, 2nd Place - PearHead BBQ
- Side Dish - 1st Place - Dan Hecht Chevrolet-Toyota, 2nd Place - PearHead BBQ
- Sauce/Rub - 1st Place - John Boos & Co, 2nd Place - Wonkey Donkey
2022 Winner
Grand Champion: Porking Lot Smokers
- Top Hog Corporate – John Boos & Co.
- Top Hop Amateur – Porking Lot Smokers
- Chicken – 1st John Boos & Co., 2nd Wonkey Donkey
- Pork – 1st Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd Pearhead BBQ
- Side Dish – 1st John Boos & Co., 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
- Sauce/Rub – 1st Dan Hecht Chevrolet-Toyota, 2nd Poe’d Smoked BBQ
2021 Winner
Grand Champion: John Boos & Co.
- Top Hog Corporate: Weis Insurance
- Top Hog Amateur: Jackass BBQ
- Chicken: 1st Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd John Boos & Co.
- Pork: 1st John Boos & Co., 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
- Sauce/Rub: 1st John Boos & Co., 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
- Theme: 1st John Boos & Co, 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
2019 Winner
Grand Champion: Porking Lot Smokers
- Top Hog Corporate: Al’s Tire Mart
- Top Hog Amateur: Porking Lot Smokers
- Chicken: 1st Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd Bethlehem Lutheran
- Pork: 1st Al’s Tire Mart, 2nd Bethlehem Lutheran
- Presentation: 1st Al’s Tire Mart, 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
- Sauce/Rub: 1st Al’s Tire Mart, 2nd Drunkie Dougees BBQ Team
- Theme: 1st Al’s Tire Mart, 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
2018 Winner
Grand Champion: Porking Lot Smokers
- Chicken: 1st Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd Rubbed Raw BBQ
- Pork: 1st Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd Koerner Distributor, Inc.
- Sauce/Rub: 1st Porking Lot Smokers, 2nd Farmweld
- Theme: 1st Farmweld, 2nd Porking Lot Smokers
2017 Winner
Grand Champion: Kick Addis BBQ
- People’s Choice: Kick Addis BBQ
- Theme: Porking Lot Smokers
