The Early Days
Even in my 20’s I’ve always been intrigued and have enjoyed grilling and smoking BBQ. I remember the days when I had a little, round, $30 Brinkman electric smoker from Wal-mart. I would try my hand at smoking ribs and think to myself, that good BBQ had to be as dark as possible and the more smoke you pour into it, the better! Little did I really know about good BBQ then! Haha! I remember asking my Dad at times,”Hey Dad, does this look done enough?” Well, years passed, life happened and in 2013, my girlfriend at the time, (wife now) bought me a bigger, vertical, real offset smoker and that’s when it all began! I immediately fell in love! Started smoking every weekend, for ANY occasion or excuse possible. I would start smoking for friends and family. Started entering BBQ competitions, became successful in those and realized this is what I wanted to do for a living. Time passed, we got married in 2015, and then we started catering together. Weddings, birthday/retirement parties, you name it all, while I was still working a 40-50 hr a week job. Other life events happened career wise and I had to finally make a decision to go full in on BBQ or the latter, which I knew wasn’t a possibility. In August 2017, I knew what I had to do! We ordered construction on a BBQ concession trailer. Through months of paperwork, phone calls, & trips downtown, we are now a fully functional licensed BBQ company! Although I don’t give enough credit where credit is due, none of this would not have been possible without the guidance of the good Lord above and to my wife, and all of my family and friends for all their support and encouragement! The sky is the limit! Never give up on your dreams, and HARD WORK & DETERMINATION does pay off!
Rich Wilkinson