Page 16 - April 2022 Barbecue News Magazine

Family Reunion
Growing up many of our fondest memories are the family reunions. Someone, probably one of the aunts, secured a shelter house at a park with plenty of space for both the adults and kids. The tables lined with everything from fried chicken to grandma’s famous potato salad. What made it so good? She always said, “Because my secret ingredient is love” and no one can make it like she did. The desserts were as varied as the stories being told while the laughter was as sweet a sound like a bird singing in the morning. The kids on swings, horseshoes being played and family members we’ve not seen in a long-time getting sec- onds of the buffet of homemade goodness. As the day draws to a close, we all say how great it was to see one another and can’t wait until next year when we all eagerly do it again.
Family reunions have a way of bringing the family closer as we reminisce about our days as kids and those we’ve lost over the years. Fond memories evoke laughter, a twinge of sadness while making their memory a foundation to con- tinue growing the family and telling their story to the family who never met the ones who started it all. “Remember that time when...” is how a lot of these sto- ries begin. While some of the others start with, “Some of the best advice I re- ceived from...” Letting the great grandkids know they wouldn’t be around without grandpa and the stories let them know a little bit of where they came from. “Did you know your great grandfather was born in a log cabin? One time he took us fishing but scared them all away when he fell into the lake?
When everyone begins talking about the NBBQA Annual National Conference, this is how it is often described, a family reunion. Family members who travel from all over the nation and in some cases, from other countries, mark this on the family calendar year after year. They cannot imagine not attending, no mat- ter where it is. We’ve had our reunions in hotels and venues where we can cook outside. The favorite parts of the reunion are the social times, as with any re- union. Hugs from long time family members who’ve we not seen in a year. Laughter and catching up on what’s new is the dominate part of the unsched- uled part of the reunion.
When COVID brought our reunion to a halt for two years, it was as if we had lost a friend. Sure, there was the phone, but it just wasn’t the same. The NBBQA tried to keep up with some aspects of the conference by offering online educational sessions to help us keep growing as pitmasters. The Awards of Excellence was done virtually which was awesome, because we didn’t miss a beat in recogniz- ing those who continued to work on their BBQ lives through the pandemic. But, honestly, as great as this was, it couldn’t replace the electricity which is the an- nual in person NBBQA Family Reunion. There is something to be said about the virtual lessons we’ve learned and will continue. But ladies and gentlemen, fam- ily, we are bringing back our family reunion.
River Ranch Stockyards in Ft. Worth with play host to our annual get-together.
We’ve been here before and love the indoor/outdoor aspects this venue allows. Whole hog demonstrations, legends versus high school pitmaster and an Awards of Excellence which will be amazing to witness. The educational ses- sions from marketing to products to sales, to maintaining your smoker to the fuel we use and much more will help us go into the rest of the year better equipped to cook our best. Ever thought of getting into the catering business, then nationally recognized caterer, Craig Carter is hosting a class and then the class gets to cater one of the meals.
Our Keynote speakers this year are second to none in their fields of expertise. On Monday morning we have Randy Sutton. Randy is a 34-year Law Enforce- ment veteran and nationally known media commentator on Law Enforcement issues. Randy is the Founder of ‘THE WOUNDED BLUE”.
He is recognized as one of the most highly decorated officers in the LVMPD his- tory, having awards for Valor, Community Service, Exemplary Service and multi- ple Lifesaving awards. He is the author of “TRUE BLUE Police Stories by Those Who Have Lived Them”, ‘A COP’S LIFE”, “TRUE BLUE TO PROTECT AND SERVE”, and has been recognized by the President of the United States while receiving the “POINTS OF LIGHT“ Award and is also the author of the Amazon #1 Best- selling book, “THE POWER OF LEGACY, Personal Heroes of America’s Most In- spiring People” He is the host of the popular Podcast and LiveTalk Radio show BLUE LIVES RADIO, THE VOICE OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
On Tuesday morning, we have Sunny Moody. Sunny is the 2021 World Food Steak Champion and has received numerous awards, Grand Championships, and Reserve Grands, and multiple 1st place and top 5 finishes in multiple categories in BBQ and Grilling. After a life-altering diagnosis of a brain and spinal malfor- mation along with MS, Sunny went through a major lifestyle transformation los- ing 80 pounds which ignited a fire inside her to become a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer. She now develops recipes with her extensive back- ground in nutrition and nothing gives her more satisfaction than teaching others how to create mouthwatering food through BBQ and Grilling.
Moodswing BBQ was founded by Sunny and Jeff Moody as a professional com- petition BBQ team. What started as a passion for backyard BBQ and live-fire cooking with family and friends has evolved into a full-fledged, high-profile pro- fessional competition BBQ team. Sunny, Jeff, and their four daughters (ages 5 to 14) travel across the country competing in Kansas City Barbecue Society (“KCBS”) and Steak Cookoff Association (“SCA”), Georgia Barbecue (GBA) events and are now branching into other areas of bbq competitions. Despite the ac- complishments as a family and numerous awards won on the competition cir- cuit, their true passion is sharing the joy of BBQ, grilling, and live-fire cooking with others. Through partnerships with some of the most respected brands in BBQ such as Kosmos Q, B&B Charcoal, and others, they are able to share their
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APRIL 2022