Pictured: (from left) Marc Crotta, Jackson Carlan, Jake Owensby, Merrick Carnes, and Teryk Tilley
We pride ourselves on great taste and tenderness, so it's no surprise that our chicken is popular on the competition BBQ circuits, including the chicken choice of many Georgia BBQ teams. One team that is near and dear to our hearts is the Tallulah Falls School - TFS Pit Vipers, a group of high school kids, under the direction of their BBQ coach and Head Pit Master, Tom Tilley. Springer Mountain Farms has had the honor of supporting this group of budding young pit masters for several years and continues to be amazed at their incredible success and growth.
We would like to congratulate them on all of their hard work in 2022 and applaud their many successes in the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), the Georgia Barbecue Championship (GBC), World Jr BBQ League Championship, and the Memphis in May World BBQ Championships.
Check out their impressive summary of results competing against adult teams, and not just other school teams.
TFS Pit Vipers 2022 Results
2 Grand Championships
3 Reserve Grand Championships
2 x Winner of the World Jr. BBQ League, hosted by Melissa Cookston for high school competition teams
6th Place KCBS World Invitational Competition (KCBS)
23rd place Chicken category at the Memphis in May World BBQ Championships
3 x Winner of the GBC Backyard Team of the Year
GBC 1st Place Chicken
GBC 1st Place Ribs
GBC 1st Place Pork
14th in Chicken for KCBS Backyard Team of the Year
1st in Ribs for KCBS Backyard Team of the Year
WORLD JR BBQ LEAGUE RECAP: TFS Pit Vipers Repeat As World Jr. League BBQ Champions (2022)
Memphis, Tennessee was the location of the stiffest competition yet for the Tallulah Falls School Pit VIpers. Seven time World BBQ Champion Melissa's Cookston hosted the World Jr. BBQ Championships which included the nations top high school bbq teams. “These kids learn morals, standards, leadership and core values that we need in life, these children are our future”, says Melissa Cookston who is called, “the Queen of Que.” The 2021 World Food Champions and the 2021 National HS BBQ Championship teams were both in attendance. The Pit Vipers did not waver.
The two TFS Pit Vipers teams finished:
Chicken - 2nd & 3rd
Ribs - 2nd & 5th
Pork - 1st & 3rd
Brisket - 1st & 5th
The Vipers finished as repeat Grand Champions and won a total cash purse of $10,700. “I would never have dreamed these kids would do so well versus the top high schools in the U.S.”, says Head Pitmaster Tom Tilley. The Pit Vipers include freshmen Frankie Pribyl of Canon and Merrick Carnes of Cornelia; sophomores Teyrk Tilley of Tallulah Falls, Jake Owensby of Cornelia, Jackson Carlan of Baldwin and Lily Turpin of Demorest; and juniors Brooke Hayes of Cornelia, Marc Crotta of Cornelia and Matthew Wolfe of Clarkesville. “It’s an honor being at this competition with Melissa Cookston. It is fun, but it’s a lot of pressure”, says Junior Marc Crotta.
KCBS WORLD INVITATIONAL RECAP: TFS Pit Vipers Strike on the World Stage
The stage was set in Gadsden, Alabama at the KCBS World Invitational on Nov. 12-13th. On the line was the 2022 Kansas City BBQ Society World Champions. “This BBQ competition is unique because to gain entry a team must have won a grand champions in 2022 and there were 150 total teams,” said Head Pitmaster Tom Tilley. The Pit Vipers had a fantastic cook!
Category placement:
Chicken - 11th
Ribs - 8th
Turkey - 16th
The Pit Vipers finished 6th Overall. “Finishing a sixth in the world is absolutely amazing ,” Jackson Carlan said.
