On behalf of the Douthat SPEED Group, I would like to thank everyone who came out and supported the 7th Annual Campsite Cook Off Oktoberfest that was held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at the Whispering Pines Campground in Douthat State Park! We were fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day that brought out hundreds to the event. It is nice to be able to showcase a place that we like to call “home” here in the Alleghany Highlands and to be able to raise money to give back to our community! I know for a fact that we had visitors as far East as Chesapeake and Virginia Beach to come as spectators to the event, and we even had a couple as far south as South Carolina on a competition team! To be able to reach out to thousands of people around is just amazing! This event couldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the volunteers of the SPEED Group and the overwhelming help from the park staff, so a huge thank you to all!
To all the competition teams, thank you for your continuous support and all of your hard work at doing what you love; cooking! The competition was tough, as it is every year, scores were tight and just minimum points away from each other, in my book you are all winners! To all of the judges, your jobs were tough and you all did a great job, thank you for volunteering your time!! To all of the vendors, thank you all for coming out and helping make our event even greater! To all of the entertainment and dance groups who came out, you all were beyond amazing, and I heard overwhelming compliments about all of your performances! And to all of our sponsors, we are extremely thankful for your support, there is no way at all possible that this event could even happen if it wasn’t for your financial support. We are very fortunate to live in the community that we live in, where people are willing to give and support each other! I was asked by a reporter a couple of days ago, “what is your favorite part of this event” and my reply was “to see people smiling, and having a good time!” And I truly mean that, and from what I saw yesterday, everyone was having a good time, thank you! Also, to the news and radio reporters from The Alleghany Journal, The Recorder, Highlands Media Group, Chronicles of the Alleghany Highlands, The Virginian Review and WFXR News, y’all’s support and helping us advertise was amazing, we couldn’t do it without you! thank you!!
Full list of winners:
Best Campsite Decorations:
Night time-Campsite 13, Team Blowin’ Smoke
Day Time-Campsite 8, Team Hickory Bent and Rail Bound
Best Pork Shoulder:
1st Place-Score 94 Points, Team Rub My Butt BBQ
2nd Place-Score 89 Points, Team Ham Squad
3rd Place-Score 88 Points, Team Just Hear For The Beer
4th Place-Score 88 Points, Team Moonshine Mike
5th Place-Score 86 Points, Team Nuts and Butts
Best Chicken:
1st Place, Score 100 Points, Team Catawba Smoke 2
2nd Place, Score 98 Points, Team Hickory Bent and Rail Bound
3rd Place, Score 97 Points, Team Rub My Butt
4th Place, Score 94 Points, Team Just Here For The Beer
5th Place, Score 92 Points, Team Ham Squad
Best Brisket:
1st Place, Score 93 Points, Team Cookin’ With The Cowboy
2nd Place, Score 91 Points, Team Sloo Moeshunn
3rd Place, Score 89 Points, Team Ham Squad
4th Place, Score 85 Points, Team The Bull Reapers
5th Place, Score 84 Points, Team Uncle Dubbie’s
Best Catfish:
1st Place, Score 96 Points, Team Hickory Bent and Rail Bound
2nd Place, Score 94 Points, Team The Bull Reapers
3rd Place, Score 94 Points, Team Ham Squad
4th Place, Score 90 Points, Team Punkie’s BBQ
5th Place, Score 89 Points, Team Cookin’ With The Cowboy
Best Pumpkin-Side Challenge/Tie Breaker Challenge
1st Place: Score 118 Points, Team Lil’ Tater’s BBQ
2nd Place, Score 113 Points, Team Rub My Butt
3rd Place, Score 106 Points, Team 2A
4th Place, Score 113 Points, Team Uncle Dubbie’s
5th Place, Score 104 Points, Team Sloo Moeshunn
Overall winners:
1st Place, Score 364 Points, Team Ham Squad
2nd Place, Score 347 Points, Team Hickory Bent and Rail Bound
3rd Place, Score 341 Points, Team Rub My Butt
4th Place, Score 338 Points, Team Sloo Moeshunn
5th Place, Score 337 Points, Team Cookin’ With The Cowboy
6th Place, Score 337 Points, Team The Bill Reapers
7th Place, Score 332, Team 2A BBQ
8th Place, Score 331, Team Punkie’s BBQ
9th Place, Score 326, Team Catawba Smoke 2
10th Place, Score 324 Points, Team Moonshine Mike
Thank you again to all our sponsors!
Hickory Sponsors:
CF Krogers
WestRock
Williams Fabrication JenFab
Highlands Community Bank
Apple Sponsors:
Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce
Nicole Gumm Groseclose Insurance Solutions
Oak Sponsors:
Randy Perkins Farm Bureau
Nicely’s Auction Company
Chemcore
ALCOVA Mortgage
Mountain Field Market
Back Up Power
Ingevity
Olde Town Covington
Alleghany Redi Mix
Alleghany Asphalt
Total Plant Maintence
Hamilton Roots Plant Shop
Maple Sponsors:
Town of Clifton Forge
Town of Iron Gate
Bartley’s Meat Market
Jackson River Community Credit Union
Garlynda’s Fancy Feet
Patsy’s Dance Studio
A1 Dance Studio
Jack Mason’s Tavern
Ace Hardware
Homers parts and accessories
Byers, Inc.
Union Mill Works
Forest Park Napa
Cliftondale Country Club
Registration for next year’s event will open on March 1, 2023, at 8am. Keep a look out for dates on our page.
Thank you all again for your support!!
Ray Keen, President Douthat SPEED Group
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