03/02/2026
This was very well written…short read.
Houston Rodeo / 250 teams.
Only Top 10 get banners
We didn’t hear our name
Here’s the honest part…
In this game, you don’t just learn how to win. You have to learn how to lose
Nine times out of ten, when they call Grand and Reserve, it’s somebody I know.
Somebody I respect. Somebody I’ve learned from…
And every once in a while, somebody I’ve helped along the way
We compete hard. But we clap, high five, and hug and cheer even harder.
Awards night? I’m usually good.
Watching your friends walk that stage is special
It’s the next morning that gets you
That’s when you replay the slices,
The tenderness
The box.
The “should I have…”
That’s the mental side of competition BBQ
I’ve won my share
But I’ve lost way more than I’ve won
And if you’re going to stay in this game,
you better learn how to lose without losing yourself
The only answer I’ve ever found is this
Don’t second-guess
Don’t spiral
Cook again and send it!
HLSR is special !! Big congratulations to everybody who grabbed some hardware this weekend!
We’ll keep slinging sauce, closing lids, and chasing big checks!
