Pictured (l-r) is Fillmore Rotary Club President Scott Beylik presenting guest speaker Steve Conaway with a Rotary mug. Photo credit Martha Richardson.

Fillmore Rotary Club President Scott Beylik introduced this week’s guest speaker Steve Conaway. Steve has been involved in competitive BBQ-ing for several years. He started by talking to others and got enthused to try it, sending him down the long BBQ competition road. Steve cooks different proteins, chicken, ribs, pork and beef brisket. At first, he didn’t win but began taking classes and then was off. He has cooked all over the United States and is the top in US. In 2019 he got Grand Champion and then covid hit and things changed. Now he is part of a different company. He talked about what the judges look for in the meat appearance, texture, and taste. The main goal is to make something the judges like, not just some new idea the person comes up with. What he enjoys about competing is seeing friends. In three weeks, he is going to Texas to compete in the World Championship event. As part of his program, he set up his BBQ in the parking lot and brought in Rib Eye steaks for all the Rotary members to try. Delicious!