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| Mike Lackey, Pitmaster of Hog-it-Up BBQ Team on the Go, Photo Stolen From PeterGreen |
I'm introducing
Mike and Michelle Lackey from Bluemont, Virginia. I love the town of Bluemont, and if you blink you may just miss the old main street or General Store. I consider the Lackey's Bluemont's best kept secret as far as barbecue goes. Having met in Australia Mike and
Michelle (she's the Aussie) moved to their own little piece of paradise on Blue
Ridge Mountain
overlooking
the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, which Michelle refers to as "Chateau Hog-It-Up"
or as her Australian Embassy where everything works a little "differently".
They've been married for 10 years, Michelle can't believe where the time has
gone! Between them they have three kids, all of who have flown the coop, three dogs
with "Boomer" being the 3rd member of the BBQ Team! They also share home with some chickens who HAVEN'T
flown the coop yet! Both Mike and Michelle members of
KCBS
and MABA. (In case you are wondering, the MABA is the Mid Atlantic Barbecue Association, and encompasses members from the East Coast, check 'em out here.)
So
Mike how did your love of BBQ Start?
"My
love of BBQing came from living in Texas where we'd BBQ at family reunions, but
then when I moved to Virginia where I found that there was nowhere to go and eat
good BBQ, so I figured if I wanted good BBQ I was going to have to cook it
myself. Family and friends raved about my BBQ over the years so I thought I'd
take it to the next level and compete. Now Michelle on the other hand used to
only grill in Australia but has since taken to the BBQ lifestyle like a duck to
water. She really likes to think she's the boss, but really I am, ..I
think?"
When did you decide to start competing?
"We started
competing at Pickin' in the Panhandle's 1st backyard competition in 2007 where
we placed 2nd in brisket! In 2008, when we went to enter Pickin a second time ,
I found that the backyard was on Sunday. I
really didn't want to compete on Sunday because that's my day to sleep in and
relax, so I was "forced" to enter into the pro's on Saturday so I could keep the
Sunday R&R tradition alive and well. Lo and behold we got a 5th brisket
that year and the rest they say is history, we were bitten by the BBQ
bug!"
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| The Lackey's Take the Prize at Grove's Harley Davidson Photo: Courtesy of Groves |
That's great! Do
you only compete in KCBS (Kansas City Barbeque Society) events or any contents?
"Well
typically we only do KCBS/MABA events, but that doesn't mean we won't venture
into other sanctioning bodies around the country to compete. We've even dabbled
in chili cook offs recently winning first place, with my Texas Chili, at an
event held by Groves Harley Davidson in Winchester VA! Michelle, we need to do
more of these so we can fund our 'BBQ habit'!"
What was your best accomplishment and why?
"Our
best accomplishment by far has to be making it to the American Royal in Kansas
City, in 2012, which was officially the biggest BBQ Competition in the world
with 525 teams competing in the 'Open' portion of the event! We had an
outstanding cook with Michelle, the Aussie "Chicken Queen" of our team,
pulling a 5th place call in the Nation during the Invitational part of the
Competition, which had 154 Grand Champion teams from around the country
competing for the top spot. Now let's not forget our 54th placing in
the Open, 525 teams, not too shabby at all!"
What is your favorite way of smoking or are you partial to any brand of
smoker?
"First off. you "Don't mess
with Texans! 'Cause we cook a little like this, We use a little Salt, Pepper,
Cayenne and garlic, that's all ya need right there, slap it on your meat, fire
up the Stumps Smoker, put some Oak in there and away you go! It don't get
better that that!"
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| The Lackey's must be off sleeping while the Stumps is going.... |
So Stumps is your pick of a smoker?
"Our
all-time favorite pit is a Classic, one of Stumps Smoker's, original competition
pits and we LOVE IT! In fact we love it so much we've ordered one of Stump's
newest masterpieces .. the Monster! Stumps Smoker's build a top quality smoker
for the avid home BBQ fan as well as competition teams. They truly are a "set
and forget" kind of pit being fully insulated and with the best part of all.....
a charcoal chute! No messing around once you light that baby. Now we get some
beauty sleep! 'Cause you know ...'Stump
Don't Build No Junk!'"
Tell me in a nutshell "What does BBQ mean to you?"
"Ultimately
BBQ means having a great cook, producing something you can be proud of, hearing
your name called last and best of all catching up with friends over a few
beers. Where else can you spend tons of money to hang out with your
buddies!"
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| Who would have seen this coming? |
Anything else you want people to know?
"We
are a multicultural team! Michelle is from Australia and I'm from Texas, well
yes Texas is a country .. Isn't it? *wink*"
