Osage County Herald-Chronicle | RCIL commemorates 25 years of service

Jeremy Gaston/Herald-Chronicle

Wayne White | Managing Editor

OSAGE CITY—“It was the best Smoke in the Spring we’ve ever had,” said Corey Linton, organizer of the annual Osage City event held Friday and Saturday.

Linton said good weather and a large turnout for the barbecue contest, entertainment and car show made the event “a perfect weekend.”

“The community saw what the event can be and what it’s supposed to be,” Linton said this week. For the last two years, the competition was held during less-than-desirable weather. Two years ago it was during a spring blizzard.

Linton said Friday night activities were also a success, with over $3,200 in Barbecue Bucks sold.

“That’s more than double what we’ve sold in the past,” he said. Barbecue Bucks were exchanged for food from participating barbecue teams.

He said he has received many compliments about the two bands that performed Friday, The Groove and Big Woody.

“The bands were great,” Linton said. “I’ve heard rave reviews.”

He said team members complimented the people of Osage City and the surrounding area, saying everyone was helpful and excited about the event.

Linton noted the contest could not have happened without city staff, contest sponsors and local volunteers.

Taking home the grand champion prize was a Prairie Village barbecue team. It was the second time in four years Munchin’ Hogs at the Hilton has won the top prize in Osage City’s contest. Last year, team members Robert Magee, Jeff Eastman, and Dave and Sue Devlin were named the Kansas City Barbeque Society team of the year.

The grand champions competed against 68 other teams. Linton said the competition was strong with three of KCBS’s top teams of 2008 in the contest. Fifteen of KCBS’s top 100 teams were also represented. The contest drew in 72 barbecue judges, of which 90 percent were officially certified by KCBS.

Linton said highlights of the contest included the youngest barbecue team to compete at Osage City – PDQ of Olathe, 14-year-old Paul Grieco and 11-year-old Dalton Spurgeon. The team also was the youngest team to win a class championship, taking first place in the brisket category.

With Grieco competing at the contest, it allowed three generations of the same family to compete. Grieco’s father is Mark Grieco, of Four Men and a Pig; his grandfather is Charlie Grieco, of QSS Smokin’.

The contest also featured some barbecue judges who are considered celebrities in the barbecue circuit, The Flying BBQ Judges. The judges, known for flying to contests around the country, arrived at Osage City Airport at 9 a.m. Saturday. The airborne judges include Mike Garrison, Mike Dyer, Jerry Bressel and Bryan Beier, although Beier was unable to attend Saturday due to a family emergency. All are from the Kansas City area, making the trip to Smoke in the Spring one of the shortest distances to contests they attend.

Munchin’ Hogs took home $2,500, a banner and trophy as the grand champion award; Big Wigs BBQ was reserve champion, winning $1,200. Champions of individual classes were: Munchin’ Hogs, chicken; Captain Hog’s BBQ, ribs; Munchin’ Hogs, pork; PDQ, brisket; Bad Ole Burns BBQ, cook’s choice; and KC Can Crew, dessert.

In the Kids-Q competition held Friday evening, Trenton Henery took first place in the 10-and-under category; Jake Early won first in the 11-and-up category.

Over 180 cars were on display in the 2009 Cruis’n & Cook’n Auto Show. The top 25 winners were: David Calwell, Topeka, 1940 Ford Deluxe Opera Coupe; Bill Ryan, Topeka, 1969 Camaro; Matt Brewer, Osage City, 2005 Prostreet; Jeff and Janetta Araiza, Topeka, 1934 Ford Coupe; Stan Krysztof, Baldwin, 1941 Chevrolet Coupe; Carl Londquist, Topeka, 1931 Ford; Dale Griffin, Lebo, 1929 Sedan; Dale Smith, Topeka, 1932 Ford; Dan Scott, Topeka, 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang; Sam and Chris Cypret, Topeka, 1934 Ford Victoria; Ed Hartegan, Topeka, 1934 Ford; Gale and Marlis Hull, Richmond, 1941 Ford Super Deluxe; Jim and Carol Roberts, Topeka, 1926 Star; Kim and Sandy Wickham, Emporia, 1960 Chevy Corvette; Jim Hastings, Berryton, 1955 Chevy Belair; Brian Jones, Ottawa, 2006 Mustang Pony Package; J.D. Scott, Ottawa, 1961 Studebaker; Dave and Beverly Seeney, Lebo, 1984 GMC; Bud and Sandra Watson, Baldwin, 64 Chevy pickup; Travis Ford, Lawrence, 2007 Custom; John Scott, Ottawa, 1972 Ford Maverick; Frank Wiseman, Wellsville, 1929 Ford; Ralph and Wanda Knight, Topeka, 1955 Chevy; Larry Scarbrough, Topeka, 1940 Ford; Oren Dick, Topeka, 1967 Dodge Charger.