Oconto Transforms Into BBQ Capital For a Day
It was 25 years ago that a Halloween night tornado ripped through Oconto, leveling a good share of the town including the fire hall. The next June a fundraiser BBQ was hosted by the Oconto fire department to raise money to rebuild. The event was a huge success, and 25 years later it still is.
Due to a two-year break during the pandemic, this year marked the 23rd Blowin’ the Doors Off BBQ event. Held on June 7 in Oconto, the 2025 cookout featured 12 grill masters and was attended by more than 1,200 people. Competing for bragging rights in six different categories were the teams of: 3 Amigos BBQ, Anselmo Fire Department, Nelson BBQ, Limp Brisket, Ribzilla, Slow Poke BBQ, Double D’s BBQ, Buk-N-Pig, Halsey Hillbilly BBQ, Hooker County BBQ, Cook’n with Wood, and N2 BBQ.
In the specialty category it was Limp Brisket taking top honors with their stuffed pork tenderloin. Buk-NPig was second with a strawberry churro cheesecake, and Hooker County BBQ came in third with a smoked pepperoni.
Limp Brisket also won the pulled pork category, with Buk-N-Pig second, and Cookin’ With Wood third. Nelson BBQ was voted the best beans by the judges, with Halsey Hillbilly BBQ second, and Cookin’ With Wood third.
The ribs are always a favorite at the competition and this year’s winning ribs were entered by Buk-NPig. Limp Brisket was second, and Cookin’ With Wood third. Cookin’ With Wood had the top sauce according to the judges, with Nelson BBQ second and Buk-N-Pig third.
The final category was brisket, and top honors went to Hooker County BBQ. Cookin’ With Wood was second, and Anselmo Fire Department third.
The overall BBQ champion was Limp Brisket, with Buk-N-Pig second, and Cookin’ With Wood third.
Along with raising money through ticket sales for the BBQ raffle tickets are also sold. This year’s raffle winners are: Mary Johnson, Mossberg shotgun; Lynn Bartak, Henry 22 rifle; Calvin Richardson, Traeger Grill; Bethany Collins, $200 Mills Hardware gift card; and Shelby Forrester, Jerry Kramer, Tammy Johnson, and Pam Ackerman, $100 Grocery Kart gift cards.
More Oconto BBQ Photos can be found on Page 16.