Bolivar BBQ Blowout Winners: Will Be Que BBQ Repeats

The 2026 Bolivar BBQ Blowout winners are in, and a familiar name is back on top. Will Be Que BBQ repeated as Pro Division Grand Champion at the City of Bolivar’s annual barbecue contest, held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, in Hardeman County. TomKats BBQ took the Backyard Division Grand Champion title.

The Magnolia Post reported the full results. The weekend had good weather as teams prepped and slow-smoked their meats before judging.

Bolivar BBQ Blowout Winners: Pro Division

Will Be Que BBQ swept first place in all three Pro categories on its way to the grand championship:

• Pulled Pork: 1. Will Be Que BBQ; 2. Meat Whiskey; 3. Old Smokey BBQ; 4. Grind City Smokers; 5. Lonely Gringo
• Ribs: 1. Will Be Que BBQ; 2. Grind City Smokers; 3. Old Smokey BBQ; 4. Big Whit & The Boys; 5. Poker Porkers
• Whole Hog: 1. Will Be Que BBQ; 2. Mean Gene’s Cooking Team; 3. Poker Porkers; 4. GatHead BBQ; 5. Meat Whiskey

Backyard Division Results

TomKats BBQ won the Backyard grand championship with a first in pulled pork and a second in ribs:

• Chicken: 1. United Pork Smokers; 2. Swine Management 101; 3. 731 Zone
• Pulled Pork: 1. TomKats BBQ; 2. Heavenly Manna BBQ; 3. Swine Management 101
• Ribs: 1. United Pork Smokers; 2. TomKats BBQ; 3. Hogg Legg Smokers

United Pork Smokers also had a strong weekend in the Backyard Division, winning both chicken and ribs.

A Fall Tradition in Hardeman County

The BBQ Blowout is one of the bigger fall gatherings in Hardeman County. Along with the cooking contest, this year’s two-day festival in downtown Bolivar featured a carnival on East Market Street, a cornhole tournament, an arts and crafts show, tours of the historic Little Courthouse and live music on Lafayette Street. Saturday morning also brought the March of Dogs parade.

Barbecue judging was held through the Memphis BBQ Network on Saturday, Oct. 24, and winners were announced at an awards ceremony that evening before a closing concert.

What It Means for Repeat Champions

Repeating as grand champion in a sanctioned contest is no small feat. Teams have to put out top entries in several meat categories on the same day, and Will Be Que BBQ did it by placing first in all three Pro Division categories this year. In the Backyard Division, TomKats BBQ showed the same kind of range, finishing near the top in more than one category.

Bolivar, the Hardeman County seat, is a short drive from Middleton and from Walnut and northern Tippah County across the state line.

For more on this year’s event, see our earlier preview: Bolivar BBQ Blowout & Music Festival Set for Oct. 23-24.

Source: The Magnolia Post