Lotta Bull Competition Techniques Class

Anyone associated with or around competition barbecue has heard of Lotta Bull BBQ.  Mike and Debbie Davis are currently the most prolific team in the country.  In 2006, they were Grand Champions at 16 contests including the $75,000 Championship BBQ Series on the Versus network.  In 9 other contests, they were Reserve Grand Champions.  Lotta Bull BBQ was the KCBS 2006 Team of the Year and top team in chicken.  When someone with credentials like this talks, people listen!

This last weekend, the first ever Lotta Bull Competition Techniques class was held in Lynchburg, TN.  The class was held at BBQ Hill on the Jack Daniel’s distillery property.  The class format was Mike and Debbie walking through the exact routine that they go through at contests.  They followed the same timeline right down to the actual turn in times of a typical contest and demonstrated their techiques for prepping, cooking, and presenting their championship BBQ.  Though I’m not going to give away any of the insights we gained at this amazing class, I will say that their execution is choreographed to precision.  The husband and wife team know exactly what to do when and who is going to do it.  They even have their seperate, individual sleep times scripted into their routine.  In addition to a precise execution, they leave nothing to risk when they get to a contest.  They are completely prepared so the risks of something going wrong are minimized before they even start.

At the end of the course, Mike (left) presented each of the 30 students with a Lotta Bull U diploma: PHD Doctorate in Bullology.  I’m not sure if it is accredited, but it will be displayed proudly with my BBQ awards.  In addition to being modern competition barbecue legends, Mike and Debbie Davis are two of the most down to earth and friendly people you’ll meet.  For anyone that has the chance to attend, I highly encourage you.  We drove through the night 10 hours with camper in tow to make this 24 hour event.  The expense and lack of sleep was well worth the entire experience.