Burnt Crow

The Burnt Crow finished up its double comp weekend in Pacific, MO at the Route 66 BBQ and Bluegrass Festival a St. Louis BBQ Society Pro Comp. The competition was tough, but we did manage to add another battle axe to our collection for a 2nd place rib call. Congratulations to OnlyCans on their 2nd year in a row Grand Championship and Take It Easy on Reserve Grand Champion and all the awesome teams that got to hear their names called.

Garry Hodges and Danny V thank you so much for all your help this past weekend. Korte Meats Competition Bbq thank you Jay LoBello for all the awesome meats you provide us for every comp., it is definitely a HUGE part of our success. King Louie's Meat Apostles for supplying us with some of the best rubs "Hot Apple Pie Don't Lie". The GOAT Barber House for keeping Jeff's hair neat and tidy, and our awesome friends at Tri Tec. Our next stop will be Sullivan, MO for the 1st Annual Meramec Community Pitmaster's Classic. See you all soon!

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The Burnt Crow flew into Smithton, IL, this weekend for the Smok'n in the Park a Pro Series St. Louis BBQ Society Competition, and what a great event it was!

A huge thank you to Pat Nichols and his team for putting on an outstanding contest while also helping raise money for our good friend Bobby Medellin of Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ. The BBQ community always shows up when it matters most, and this weekend was no exception.

Congratulations to Rock Star BBQ on their **Reserve Grand Championship**, and to all the teams who heard their names called. The competition was tough, and the field was packed with great cooks.

As for The Burnt Crow, we're proud to say we had one of our best days of the season:

19th Place Chicken
🥇 **1st Place Ribs**
🥇 **1st Place Pork**
🥈 **2nd Place Brisket**

And when the dust settled...

🏆 **GRAND CHAMPION OVERALL!** 🏆

We couldn't be more excited about the results and are grateful for the support of our family, friends, sponsors, and fellow competitors. Time to get back to work and do it all again tomorrow!

Garry Hodges Danny V Jeff Budde Korte Meats Competition Bbq Prairie Fresh

So grateful to be featured by the St. Louis BBQ Society as part of their "We ARE SLBS series". The Burnt Crow BBQ Team has given us more than we ever bargained for in the best possible way.

The trophies are great. The people are everything.

Thank you, SLBS family. ❤️

🔥 We ARE SLBS: The People Behind the Smoke 🔥
Feature #8 — Jim StGemme, Jeff Budde & The Burnt Crow BBQ Team

Some teams compete for trophies.

Others compete because somewhere along the way… the people became family.

For Pitmasters Jim StGemme and Jeff Budde of The Burnt Crow BBQ Team, the journey started back in 2009 cooking with friends before launching their own team in 2018. What followed opened doors to incredible experiences, unforgettable weekends, and some of the biggest stages in BBQ.

But ask why they keep coming back, and the answer has nothing to do with trophies.

It’s the community.

The friendships. The second family built around smoke, fire, and competition weekends.

And while the calls matter, there’s one part of every competition weekend that stands above the rest:

The awards ceremony.

That anticipation.
The energy.
Hearing names called and seeing teams celebrate each other’s success.

One moment still rises above the others.

Winning Grand Champion at the Rock Road BBQ Battle in 2023 with Jim’s mother there to witness it!

A moment bigger than BBQ.

Through SLBS, The Burnt Crow BBQ Team has earned opportunities to cook at some of the most prestigious events in the country, including The Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ and The American Royal.

But even on the biggest stages, the heart of it stays the same:

Friends.
Family.
Fire.
Community.

Different teams.
Same passion.
Same family.

This is who we are. This is why we do it.
We ARE SLBS.

What a memorable moment for The Burnt Crow. A.K.A. Burnt Cow 😂

Only 140 days until we’re back with our people at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue®… but who’s counting 👀🔥

The Burnt Crow is all set up at Korte Rib Burn. Good luck to all the teams competing today.

This is going to be a great event, and a great cause. Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ can’t wait to peck at some tasty BBQ.

‼️IMPORTANT INFO‼️

Vets Rolling Smoke and Bbq will be vending professional BBQ at this years event. One the OG founders is facing some life issues and the Smithton Fire Company is asking for you ALL to show up, show out and show this Brother that we will support this cause!

“Some of you may know Bobby as one of the original founders of Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ — a guy who’s always shown up for others, whether it was serving great food or supporting the veteran community.
Right now, Bobby could use that same support.

Over the past few months, he’s been dealing with serious back pain, expecting something minor. Instead, doctors discovered an 8.2 cm tumor on his spinal cord called a myxopapillary ependymoma — a rare condition that’s now requiring a very delicate and complex surgery.
After multiple scans and consultations with specialists at WashU, the recommendation is to move forward with surgery sooner rather than later to help prevent long-term neurological damage. This won’t be a simple procedure — it will involve a team of neurosurgeons, and additional surgeries may be needed down the road.
Bobby has always been the kind of person who gives without hesitation. Now it’s our turn to stand behind him.
If you’re able to support, share, donate, or simply keep him in your thoughts, it all matters more than you know.
We’ll continue to share updates as we learn more, but for now — let’s rally around one of our own.”

Happy Easter!

The Burnt Crow wishes you a joyful Easter filled with laughter, love, and delicious moments! Whether you're savoring BBQ with family or hunting for eggs, let’s make it a celebration to remember. Here's to bright colors, warm hearts, and good food. Cheers to spring and new beginnings!

🔥 THE BURNT CROW IS READY FOR THE 2026 SEASON! 🔥
We’re excited to roll into another year of competition BBQ! Our full 2026 schedule is locked in, and we can’t wait to get back on the BBQ trail. Check out our updated schedule graphic below and come see us at an event near you!
From spring through fall, we’ll be cooking, competing, and serving up the smoke everywhere we go. We’d love to see familiar faces — and meet new ones — along the way.
🔥 Follow us all season at:
👉 burntcrow.com
Let’s make 2026 our best season yet.
See you on the BBQ trail!
— The Burnt Crow BBQ Team 🐦🔥💨