OUR STORY
THE BEGINNING: NACOGDOCHEs, TX
Many of the 300 Justice Road crew first crossed paths in the oldest town in Texas—Nacogdoches. While Stephen F. Austin State University wasn’t where our cookoff team officially began, it became the heart of the friendships, laughter, and late nights that still fuel our team today. It was at 300 Justice Road, Nacogdoches, TX 75961 that the core of our team lived, cooked, and began a journey that would grow far beyond what we imagined.
SCHULENBURG, TEXAS
Our cookoff adventures officially kicked off in 2001 during the dog days of summer in Schulenburg, Texas. Back then, we were more of a beer-drinking team than a cooking team—but we burned plenty of briskets, shot gunned our fair share of beers, and had an unforgettable time at the Schulenburg Festival each August.
We even started to bring home a few trophies: First Place Showmanship, First Place Bloody Mary, First Place 5K (in the “dressed like a hot dog” category), and almost first place in a Moon Pie eating contest that ended with a weeklong stay in the local hospital (don’t ask—or do). Those years in Schulenburg built memories that still make us laugh today.
Czhilispiel and Our Start in Houston
Eventually, our cooking improved (just a little), and we made the move to Czhilispiel in Flatonia, Texas—a much cooler October tradition. There, we honed our skills, cooked better food, and eventually found our way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.
In 2018, our team made the finals in brisket, marking a major milestone—and we were officially on our way.
Older? Definitely. Wiser? Debatable. But the fun—and the fire—are stronger than ever.