Barbecue brings together family, friends, champions

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR
  • The team at Memphis in 2024. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
    The team at Memphis in 2024. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
  • Lonnie under cooking tent waiting for judges to come by.
    Lonnie under cooking tent waiting for judges to come by.
  • The banjos from Galax, Virginia, where the team won four championships.
    The banjos from Galax, Virginia, where the team won four championships.
  • Lonnie and Lee finishing up a whole hog.
    Lonnie and Lee finishing up a whole hog.

    Lonnie Smith Jr. enjoys life and the many opportunities it has to offer.

    “Life is an adventure,” the long-time barbecue cooker professed in an interview last week. “I’m very good about not saying no. If somebody says, ‘let’s try something,’ if it doesn’t detrimentally hurt my family, I’m all about it.”

    While the 62-year-old has numerous passions, at the top of the list arguably has to be his love fo…