KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced today that its Smithfield brand has signed on as a key sponsor for Sterling Ball’s Big Poppa Smokers (BPS) promoted events throughout the 2016 competition BBQ season. The Big Poppa Smokers championship BBQ team will also serve as a Smithfield brand ambassador for the 2016 season.
The prestigious King of the Smoker $75,000 Invitational will now be known as the Smithfield King of the Smoker Invitational, with Smithfield supplying their Prime line of pork butts and ribs to all of the incredible teams that will be competing. The event will take place in December at the historic Waldorf Astoria La Quinta Resort & Club and features the best teams in BBQ. Barbecue heavyweights such as Johnny Trigg, Tuffy Stone, Chris Lilly, and Darren Warth have all competed at the King of the Smoker; which has been called, “the toughest field in BBQ.”
Smithfield is also set to sponsor the wildly popular Guinea Pig BBQ Competition; which will be called the Smithfield Guinea Pig. The Smithfield Guinea Pig contest is a 50 team contest that has been re-structured to be more affordable for competition teams. The Guinea Pig format has been called “the future” of BBQ competitions with its focus on bringing families and affordability back to BBQ. Featuring a $10,000 prize purse that awards out to 10 places, all meats included in the entry fee, free dessert entry and free “Kid’s Que” entry – it’s easy to see why so many teams are excited about this format. Smithfield will also supply all teams with their “Extra Tender” pork butts & ribs – which were a huge hit at the first 2016 Guinea Pig competition.
Smithfield’s sponsorship will also allow the Guinea Pig contest format to expand to two more competitions in 2016. There will be a Smithfield Guinea Pig contest on July 22 in Kansas City. The dates and locations for the third Smithfield Guinea Pig contests are to be determined.
“We are thrilled to join Sterling Ball in his BBQ endeavors. We believe that his objective of making competitive BBQ more accessible for families to participate aligns with Smithfield’s goals and objectives,” said Emily Detwiler, Smithfield Senior Brand Manager. “To us, it is a natural fit to partner with Sterling on his successful BBQ events and initiatives.”
The BPS Championship BBQ Team will also be one of Smithfield’s newest sponsored teams heading into the 2016 competition BBQ season. The BPS Team was ranked as the #1 Pork team in the country by the Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS) in 2015. In addition, Smithfield has added Gettin’ Basted and Shake ‘N Bake, the #1 Ribs team in the country, to their competitive BBQ roster. All three teams are proficient and knowledgeable of pork and ribs and are leaders on the KCBS circuit.
“I am so excited to be joining the Smithfield team,” says Ball. “Whether it’s the Extra Tender or Smithfield Prime, I am amazed at the quality and consistency of the product. As a competition cook, you are looking for any advantage you can find to push you to the next level; and I believe that I have found that in Smithfield products.”
For more information, Visit www.Smithfield.com and www.bigpoppasmokers.com
About Big Poppa Smokers
Big Poppa Smokers was founded in 2009 out of Sterling Ball’s passion for all things BBQ. Since then, the Big Poppa Smokers online BBQ store and has become the internet’s leading supplier for anyone interested in outdoor cooking. Big Poppa Smokers BBQ rubs & seasonings have also become a staple in competition BBQ by featuring perfectly balanced flavors crafted from the finest ingredients. From Cash Cow Brisket Rub to Happy Ending Finishing Dust; BPS rubs have had a hand in winning almost every major BBQ competition in America. In 2015, the Big Poppa Smokers BBQ Team was crowned the #1 Pork cook in the country. Big Poppa Smokers’ rubs have also been picked up by national restaurant chain; BJ’s Brewhouse – proving that BPS rubs are versatile enough for the kitchen pantry. Big Poppa Smokers has also created a sponsorship program to benefit children’s charities across the US: The BPS Elite Team. The program features the best BBQ teams in the country working together to promote camaraderie, competition BBQ, and charity. It is clear that Big Poppa Smokers is more than an online BBQ store; it is a company that is dedicated to growing the BBQ community. For more information, visit www.bigpoppasmokers.com and www.facebook.com/bigpoppasmokers.
About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the Unites States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Nathan's Famous®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Carando® and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
Source: Smithfield Foods