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At the 46th Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, The Shed BBQ from Ocean Springs, Mississippi took home the coveted Grand Champion title on Saturday, May 18. Memphis in May officials confirmed that Brad Orrison and his sister Brooke Lewis, seasoned competitors of 17 years, claimed their third top honor for their Whole Hog category entry.
Lording over shoulders and ribs, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q and Heath Riles BBQ Team commanded the attention with first-place finishes in their respective categories. With the judges' decisions rendered and the smoke settled, the winners stood tall amongst a diverse field of 129 teams—from four foreign countries and 22 states—converging on Memphis with hopes of barbecue glory and their sights set on a share of the $150,000 cash prize pool, Local Memphis reported.
Memphis in May is a bearer of tradition and cultural festivities. Cementing its future, officials announced that the Memphis in May WCBCC will continue to bring the heat to Liberty Park, scheduling next year’s event for May 14-17, 2025. Additionally, runners will take to the streets of downtown Memphis for the Great American River Run on May 24. Declaring the event a summer staple, Brian Hoffman, General Manager of Simmons Bank Stadium & Liberty Park, underscored the partnership's excitement, affirming the venue’s preparedness to host the WCBCC and represent our community, according to a statement obtained by WREG News.