Your 2024 Kansas State Barbecue Champions are … from Greater St. Louis.
Mulkey’s BBQ from Imperial, Missouri, competing in the popular Lenexa contest for the first time, took top honors as Grand Champion of the 42nd annual Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, officially designated as the Kansas State Championship BBQ.
Head chef Mike Mulkey credited the victory to “a solid cook all around,” with category results including first place in pork, third in brisket and sixth in pork ribs. Mulkey used a variety of commercial rubs and seasonings and cooked all of his meats over a combination of pecan and cherry wood.
“With 170-plus teams out here, it’s humbling,” Mulkey says. As Grand Champion, he came away with $3,000 in prize money.
One of the largest and most popular contests in the region, the Lenexa cook-off drew a record 172 teams, up from 164 in 2023. Competitors came from as far as Montana for the contest. Prizes and ribbons were awarded to the top 10 contestants in seven categories (brisket, pork, pork ribs, chicken, sausage, beefsteak and miscellaneous) and the top three overall winners.
The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle started in 1982 with 12 contestants and was officially designated the Kansas State Championship BBQ two years later.
from Imperial, Missouri. Photography by John Martello.
The typical good-natured party atmosphere reigned throughout the two-day contest, held June 21-22, despite some intense summer heat. Cookers’ campsites were well stocked with cold beverages, generators and industrial-sized fans, as well as the usual assortment of flags, banners and other decor items. If you’ve never been, some of the team names will give you a sense of the prevailing vibe: “Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Rub,” “Beefer Madness,” “Hoggy Style BBQ,” “Ribs for Her Pleasure,” “Grill on Grill Action” and “Tender Racks N’ Smokin’ Butts.”
While a St. Louis-area team took top honors at the event, local competitors more than held their own. Smokey Bey’s Barbecue of Liberty was Reserve Grand Champion, earning $1,750. Local category winners included Dr. Squealgood BBQ of Olathe, first in chicken; Swinedotte Co. BBQ of KCK, first in pork ribs; Roadkill BBQ of Basehor, Kansas, first in brisket; Oink, Moo and Cock-a-doodle-doo of Overland Park, first in beefsteak; and Smokin’ with Budha and Dunn of Olathe, first in sausage.
Scott Ullrich of the Five Guys and a Grill team credits the city for creating the draw.
“Compliments to Lenexa,” Ulrich says. “They do a great job every year putting on the contest. They’re just a great host.”
