40+ Years of
Championship BBQ.
From the first Memphis in May in 1978 to today — the complete journey of Jim Quessenberry and the Arkansas Trav'ler Cooking Team.
1978
Jim competed at the very first Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest — one of about 10 teams on the inaugural field. He returned every year through 1994, over 15 years on the circuit.
1984
The Pig Tails team — including Bob Stacy — took 3rd place at Memphis in May. Early crew that fed into the Arkansas Trav’ler years.
Mid-1980s
Jim formalized his crew as the Arkansas Trav'ler Cooking Team out of Northeast Arkansas, carrying Cross County pit tradition to the national competition circuit.
1985
Backyard tune-up photos show Jim flipping burgers before the trip. Then Lisdoonvarna: the team won the Irish Cup International Barbecue Contest — first world title.
"The sauce and rub recipes that would become Sauce Beautiful and Spice Beautiful were born on these international competition circuits."
Ireland tour — tuning up
Irish Cup World Championship
1986
Press notes the team’s path to the National Rib Cookoff — the Cleveland circuit Jim later called the “rib mafia.”
1987
Second Irish Cup win. Airport photos show the team greeted on return — two-time world champions.
1988
Jim prepares Irish lamb stew at City Hall — culinary ambassador as much as pitmaster.
1989
Formal “Sauce man” portrait and dream-recipe feature. Sons Lee (7) and Michael (5) begin learning on camera — the Little Ribbers.
1990
Print photos of the original Sauce Beautiful and Spice Beautiful jars. Also Memphis Channel 3 coverage at Memphis in May.
1994
Photo coverage of teams and showmanship at Memphis in May — peers including John Willingham and the broader circuit Jim cooked in through his final contest years.
1993
The entire family competed together at Memphis in May. Jim, Lee, and Michael represented the culmination of years of championship knowledge being passed down. Today, Lee and Michael provide commentary on this footage, sharing insights into their father's techniques.
2000
Jim Quessenberry passed away, but his championship legacy lived on through his sons, the original recipes, and the decades of memories created in competition pits and backyard cookouts across the country.
2005
Feature story with adult photos of Lee and Michael seasoning ribs and prepping charcoal — and the All-Star BBQ Showdown era carrying the family name.
2014
Lee and Michael revived Jim's exact original recipes and brought the sauces to market through Bluff City BBQ Supply in Memphis.
2014–Present
Full lineup online and in stores. The Meatwave scored Sauce Beautiful Original 8/10 — “Approaching Greatness.”
Full newspaper image IDs, book references, and review links live in the press archive.
Open press & media archive →Taste 40+ Years of Championship Legacy
The same championship flavors that won the Irish Cup in 1985 and 1987 — now available for your backyard cookouts.
