GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Pig-Chicka Cow-Cow Competition BBQ came into last Saturday’s First Coast Ham Jam with a commanding lead in the Florida BBQ Association’s Pro Team of the Year competition.

The group’s Grand Champion victory at the Clay County Fairgrounds only strengthened the team’s chance to repeat as state champions.

Buoyed by second-place finishes in chicken and pork butt and wins in ribs and brisket, the four-man team from Apopka earned is 11th overall victory in 16 statewide cookoffs this year.

About 20 teams braved rain, wind and hail soon after they fired their grills Friday night to compete in the four categories. Points were tabulated from the four categories to determine the overall Grand Champion.

And like so many other competitions this year, it wasn’t close.

Backyard Bro’s Competition BBQ team was second overall after winning in chicken, finishing second in ribs, fifth in pork and XXX in brisket.

Pig-Chicka Cow-Cow now will head to one of the world’s premier competitions, the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue at Lynchburg, Tenn., this Saturday. The Jack Daniels Grand Champion will come home with $10,000

Ham Jam was a perfect dress rehearsal for Jack Daniels.

“(Ham Jam) was a small contest with a bunch of new faces cooking,” said team cook and co-founder Lee Thompson. “Now we are off to the big dance in Lynchburg.”

Backyard Bro’s got things started by finishing first in chicken. Pig-Chicka Cow-Cow was second, followed by Sweet Smoke Q in third, Belly Up BBQ in fourth and Hawg Wash BBQ of Palatka in fifth.

Pig-Chicka Cow-Cow won in ribs, followed by Backyard Bro’s in second, Sweet Smoke Q in third, Hawg Wash in fourth and Smokin’ gillboys in fifth.

In pork, Hawg Wash won the blue ribbon, while Pig-Chicka Cow-Cow was second, Blackjack Oak was third, Sweet Smoke Q was fourth and Backyard Bro’s were fifth.

Finally, Pig-Chicka Cow-Cow was first in brisket.

Statewide, Backyard Bro’s are second in the FBA standings, followed by Sweet Smoke Q in third.