Jason had been barbequing for about 10 years. He started his competition team in 2004 with a small contest in Arthur, after that he was hooked. Jason had used many different types of smokers over the years. Starting off with your standard Brinkmann bullet smoker after mastering that he moved up to an offset style smoker which he used for a a year or so. Then it happened he found the best smoker money can buy: The Weber Smokey Mountain (aka WSM). This is now his smoker of choice. Currently he competes with 2 Weber Smokey Mountains and a 22″ Weber Performer Kettle. He also owns a large smoker/grill combination that is 5 foot long and is made of 1/4″ steel. It is used for the large cooks for his catering. Jason is also very active in home-brewing with his favorite beer being a nice strong stout. His hobbies include: Geocaching, Cooking, Camping and Scouting.

Rachel has been helping Jason from the beginning. She has the most important ob on the team the official taster. Now that may sound like an easy job but it isn’t. Rachel knows good barbeque, and she is not afraid to tell Jason when something is bad, she is always the 1st person to taste the food before turn-in and the last person to see it. She looks at the boxes and makes sure they are perfect. Rachel has been the runner for the team for several years. When Jason is ready for a turn in she is there to run it to the judges. Smokey J’s is proud to say that no entries have ever been turned in late at any contest. Rachel enjoys working in her yard, camping and generally everything in the outdoors. Her favorite job is being the mom to 2 Teen boys and attending the many sports activities they are involved in.

Nate has been helping his dad for the last 3 years. He really enjoys cooking and being around barbeque. Nate himself is a 4-Time Grand Champion in the kids division and an up and coming competition chili cook receiving his 1st award in 2010 with a 3rd place finish in a chili contest beating his Dad The Great Smokey J. In his spare time Nate enjoys playing the Saxophone and Guitar. Nate is a Life Scout in Troop 141. In 2013 Nate and his brother will start competing in amateur competitions under the team name BBQ Bros.

Although Seth has not been cooking for that long he has done very well for himself. He has finished 2nd on two occasions and 3rd in the Kids Division the last 3 years. In 2013 Seth will begin cooking in amateur barbeque contests with his brother under the team name of BBQ Bros. Seth enjoys video games and playing outside. He is a very accomplished football player. He plays offensive tackle and guard and asset to his team The Mattoon Breakers. Seth is also a very accomplished Tuba player for his school band. Seth is a Star Scout in Troop 141.