By Marc Robertson
CURRENT Photos: Isaiah Saldivar
The winners of the 2022 Wild Hog Cook-Off were announced Saturday afternoon, March 12, in the Pasture Pavilion on the La Salle County Fairgrounds.
Categories and winning teams with their captains were as follows:
Artistic Presentation: 1st Place - Emily Nolan and Team Ace; 2nd and 3rd Places - Karen Dudek and the Diamond D Ranch Team.
Showmanship: 1st Place - Karen Dudek and the Diamond D Ranch Team; 2nd Place - Abel Gonzalez and Gonzalez Tradition; 3rd Place - Donna Rodriguez and Los Encinaluenos.
T-Shirt Design: 1st Place - Karen Dudek and the Diamond D Ranch Team; 2nd place - Emily Nolan and Team Ace.
Cook’s Choice Awards: 1st Place - Jacob Carrizales and Jacob’s Team; 2nd Place - Carlos Sanchez and Team Maelee; 3rd Place - Jay Watson and the Watson Hog Cookers.
Barbecue Taste: 1st Place John Steelhammer and Gary Kelly with BJ’s Hot Damn Cookers; 2nd Place - Jacob Carrizales and Jacob’s Team; 3rd Place - Nick Gomez and Los Cuatreros.
Exotic Taste: 1st Place - Cody Kreft and Dysfunkshun Junkshun; 2nd Place - Ben Artmar and Fenner Ranch 2; 3rd Place - John Steelhammer and Gary Kelly with BJ’s Hot Damn Cookers.
The overall grand champion for this year’s cook-off was Cody Kreft with the Dysfunkshun Junkshun team. The reserve champion was Ben Atmar with the Fenner Ranch 2 team.