Smoke on the Water beneficiary EJ Tompkins smiles as wide as the large $45,000 check he was presented with Saturday night. Far left, a large crowd waits for the public tasting to begin. Organizers estimate 450-500 supporters attended the 13th annual event.
Rain fell on Saturday but it did little to dim the light, excitement, or tantalizing aroma of BBQ at the 13th annual Smoke on the Water held at Old Settlers Park in Lynnville on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Eighteen teams of pitmasters from across the state gathered for the event where they put their tried-and-true recipes to the test and cranked out delicious offerings in the six judged categories of mystery meat, chicken, pork butt, ribs, brisket, and side dish. Organizers estimate between 450-500 community members and supporters attended this year’s Smoke on the Water and reaped the rewards of the competitors’ around-the-clock work at the public tasting. The event lived up to it’s tagline of “Good People, Good Food, Good Cause,” when near the end of the night a check for $45,000 was presented to eight-year-old EJ Tompkins, son of Mason and Bailey Tompkins of Lynnville. The money will assist the Tompkins family with ongoing medical bills as EJ recovers from a tragic accident that happened earlier this year and resulted in the loss of his lower right leg.
On the eve of the big day, teams of competitors rolled into Old Settlers, set up their makeshift kitchens, and a bags tourney kept the evening entertainment lively. Caleb Morgan from team Lynny Mafia and Miles Zmolek made up the winning team. Half of the bags tourney payout went to the Tompkins family.
On Saturday, the only delay due to rain was the opening prayer by Mike Terpstra, grandfather of EJ Tompkins, and the playing of “The National Anthem,” which took place approximately three hours later than anticipated.
Throughout the day on Saturday, competing teams worked on perfecting their offerings, which were later turned in to the judges with bragging rights, titles, and flashy trophies on the line. A panel of 18 judges had the tasty task of sampling each meat dish and the side dish and assigning a points total to each entry. The public later got their chance to sample each piece, and not a single person left Old Setts hungry, especially given the Killduff Hotshots 4-H Club sold baked goods, beverages, and Zimm’s Kettle Corn, and the Fire on Wheels Pizza Truck was onsite in the latter hours of Smoke on the Water. This year’s beneficiary, EJ, had a hand in making the day memorable in more ways than one. Leading up to the event, he stayed busy making 3D-printed items sold in live auction to guests who had shown up in his honor on Saturday.
Once all the points were tallied and the first-of-its-kind kids’ carnival organized and manned by Lynn Dunsbergen, and manned by Ellie Dunsbergen, and Olivia, Ruby, and Hazel Beyer wrapped up, the Smoke on the Water Committee presented the awards to first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category, a Reserved Grand Champion, and a Grand Champion.
The winner of the 50/50 raffle drawing that drew $390 was Don Leeps, who donated his winnings to the Tompkins.
At 6 p.m., the live auction began with several hot-item tickets on the auction block including an Iowa flag wall decoration and the Highlandville package that sold for $1,600. As it has in years past, the Iowa flag wall decoration – which organizers report has become a traveling auction item – drew $3,200.
Darci Jansen, a Smoke on the Water committee member, explained, “This item is auctioned to the highest bidder who can display it in their own home/business with the understanding that it needs to be returned so it can be auctioned again.” Janco Industries purchased the traveling Iowa flag wall decor for the second consecutive year and will keep it proudly displayed in their Sully business.
All of the money raised through the auction also went to the Tompkins family. Preston Van Wyk, owner/operator of BVM Auctions out of Monroe, served as the auctioneer for the evening.
Following the auction, a large check in the amount of $45,000 was presented to EJ and his family.
The donated tally is a culmination of funds raised by the com-petition itself, win-ners giving back their earnings, a $670 donation from the Killduff Hotshots 4-H Club, live and silent auc-tion proceeds, and donations from the community. Also, Lynnville-Sully administrators Matt Dunsbergen and Aaron Shipley made up the team “No Swine Left Behind.” Combined with their winnings earned in the BBQ contest, they were able to donate approximately $1,100 to the Tompkins family, donations from Lynnville-Sully staff where EJ is a second grade student.
“We are completely overwhelmed by the love and generosity our community has shown us, and we give all the glory to God for His incredible provision. This event did so much more than raise funds for our son's recovery – it reminded us that the Lord is walking this road with us every step of the way,” said Bailey Tompkins, mother of EJ.
The night concluded with Pace Productions providing the entertainment as the sun hit the horizon. The entertainment portion of the evening was sponsored by American Family Insurance and McCue & Associates LLC.
The Smoke on the Water Committee works year-round preparing for the annual August event.
Jansen said the committee has several people to thank for another successful Smoke on the Water including the City of Lynnville for use of Old Settlers, every person and group who helped with the events of the day including Cory Van Zante for running the sound system and the Christian Motorcycle Association Thunder and Light who assisted with parking, the teams of competitors who serve as the heart of the mission, the nearly 500 guests who showed up in support of EJ and his family on Saturday, and the individuals and businesses who donate generously year after year.
Smoke on the Water, a long-standing event that just wrapped up its 13th year, has now raised over $265,000 for local families facing a medical hardship.
Winners of the 13th Annual Smoke on the Water BBQ competition are:
Grand Champion: Smokey Bros BBQ. Reserve Champion: Bucknutz BBQ.
Chicken: 1st – Smokey Bros BBQ, 2nd – McDonald Family BBQ, 3rd – Family Tradition BBQ.
Ribs: 1st – Bucknutz BBQ, 2nd – Family Tradition BBQ, 3rd – No Swine Left Behind.
Pork Butt: 1st – Smokey Bros BBQ, 2nd – McDonald Family BBQ, 3rd – Bucknutz BBQ.
Brisket: 1st – Bucknutz BBQ, 2nd – Smokey Bros BBQ, 3rd – No Swine Left Behind.
Mystery Meat: 1st – Lynnville EMS, 2nd – Last Minute BBQ, 3rd – Family Tradition BBQ.
Side Dish: 1st – No Swine Left Behind, 2nd – McDonald Family BBQ, 3rd – All Sauced Up
