Backwoods Smoker

The Competition Hog Cooker by Backwoods Smoker

If you're going to the Independence Bowl and want to drop some serious change into your tailgating, help will only be about 15 miles away.

I saw an ad for Backwoods Smoker in a barbecue newsletter I get through the Kansas City Barbecue Society. The ad said the smokers run from $785 to $7,434 and are built in Shreveport.

When I called Mike McGowan, who runs the operation, and he said he's been building the smokers for 20 years about 14 miles north of downtown Shreveport in the backwoods. That's truth in advertising. He said most of his smokers are sold to caterers and professional barbecue teams, but there are plenty of normal residential folks who buy them. He said people stop by to see his handiwork from time to time.

He said he's never been to the Independence Bowl, but it's entirely possible some of his smokers have been. I'm hoping I can catch one in action in one of the tailgating areas. Anyone serious enough to drop that kind of money into a smoker, probably knows a thing or two about ribs.

-aj