Page 18 - JAN2020 BBQNEWS Digital Issue

Women in BBQ
Wow! There are so many Smokin’ Ladies in BBQ! Barbecue used to be a man’s world, but times have changed. Two years ago, Carolyn Wells nominated me for a business award and I won. I sat down with her a few months later to say thank you, and she said, “I was so proud to hear you won. You’re making it in a man’s world, I’m cheering for you.” Women are awesome like that; a constant community of cheerleaders. Pair that with an amazing BBQ family and
Mary Reese
Hogline Owatonna, MN
Team Name: My team name is Hogline and con- sists of myself, lead cook and Husband Dustin Reese, Joe Elbert, our two boys, Harrison(6) and Alex Reese(3), and our original team members, brothers John and Jeff Hanson. We are a master series BBQ competition team.
Day Job: Account Executive in Radio
BBQ Job: Competition Team
How did you get started in BBQ? Dustin was the one who got started on the BBQ journey first. He volunteered with Smokin in Steele and then decided to do the backyard events. I definitely encouraged this by buying him his first smoker which was a Trager Pro Series.
What award are you most proud of? I got my first 180 pin before Dustin because of the Anything Butt categories and my peach pound cake dessert, but I am most proud of the fact that he was the Reserve Grand Champion of the American Royal Invitational in 2017. We were also able to knock off one our top bucket list items, which was Grand Champion at our home town contest Smokin in Steele 2018.
Best BBQ secret you’ve learned? The best BBQ secret that I have learned is that there aren’t really too many true
it is easy to understand why people fall in love with the BBQ lifestyle. So many husband/wife teams, families, and women are out there catering, judging, starting businesses, and winning! Let’s be honest, the Dobosenski girls are ready to go pro!
To all the BBQ ladies and girls out there...we’re all cheering for you!
secrets. Okay, we might not “tell all” but we are willing to help our BBQ family because the people that you meet along the way in BBQ are truly family. And apple juice, use apple juice.
Secret to your team’s success? Our success comes from consistency and team work. I have my responsibilities and Dustin does everything else. Everything is timeline based so we both need to know what times we need to be working on certain things. Also I support what he is doing with BBQ 100%. I love being a part of it just as much as he does. Who is your BBQ mentor? Oh wow. There are some in- credible women in BBQ and I’d love to be as cool as Kate McGlaun or Sherry Warth but who doesn’t.
What’s the one thing you never BBQ without? Beer for those lucky beer traditions. Its BBQ after all, we drink beer and are superstitious.
Janelle Willard
Myassis Smokin’ Circle Pines, MN
BBQ Job: Competition Team
Favorite Quote: At least we didn’t come in dead ass last!
How did you get started in BBQ? My first contest was Minnesota in May in 2004, my husband Jim and I decided to give it a shot to see how we would do.
THREE PART SERIES
By Claire Driessen
BarbecueNews.com - 18
JANUARY 2020