On July 21st and 22nd, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce held its 2nd annual "Smokin’ on the River" cookoff. A nice shower on Friday turned the blistery hot weather into a beautiful weekend on the banks of the Missouri River.

The cool breeze off the River picked up the savory smoke from the pits to tantalize all onlookers. Thirteen certified judges showed up in addition to the twenty-five teams from Missouri and Kansas. Leo Himmelberg and Steve Jones were first time event organizers. Mike and Andrea McMillen were the KCBS reps who, with Stephanie Wilson and the rest of the staff at Kansas City, made the event sail along smoothly. Consistency won the day. Great Grills O’ Fire teamed up with The Smokin’ Mother Ruckers to form Mother Ruckers Great Grills and, true to their past achievements, were the Grand Champions. Last years Grand Champions, Tom & Josh’s Orgasmic Slabs, also showed their consistency by winning the Reserve Grand Championship. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in chicken went to Tom & Josh’s Orgasmic Ribs, Mother Ruckers Great Grills, and All American BBQ. Ribs went to Mother Ruckers Great Grills, All American BBQ, and Big ‘uns Smoke Shack. Pork finished Freda’s Redneck BBQ, Hootchie Cootchie BBQ, and Tom & Josh’s Orgasmic Slabs. The winners of brisket were Mother Ruckers Great Grills, Fredas Redneck BBQ and Hootchie Cootchie BBQ. The Best of the Tri-County went to Pork’n.

Spacious camping areas, free electricity and ice, and hot showers helped make for an enjoyable weekend. Critter Lackland of Pork’n brought several buckets of golf balls, and several smokers helped drive them into the River. Who knows? Next year’s cookoff might include a little tee time competition (golf balls not redeemable).