
Jeff Savell, Ray Riley, Blythe Schultz, Michael Berto, Kaitlyn Porter, Hillary Henderson, and Davey Griffin
For the fourth year in a row, Texas A&M University was one of the sponsors of the TMBBQ Fest, and Texas Barbecue faculty and students were in attendance at the festival on Sunday, September 14, 2014 in Austin. The Texas A&M University team included Davey Griffin, Ray Riley, Jeff Savell, Blythe Schultz, Kaitlyn Porter, Hillary Henderson, Michael Berto, and John Chivvis.
Our booth has been dubbed the Barbecue Genius Counter, mimicking the Apple Genius Bar concept where people can get their questions answered. But we find our group is as much about learning about barbecue than it is about teaching!
We got to the festival early to be able to visit with the pitmasters before the gates opened. We were able to visit with so many people we have met over the years, and we were able to meet some new pitmasters this year adding to the ever-growing group of great Texas Barbecue people we are getting to know through events such as this.
What was our most asked question by the participants at the festival? How do we get a ticket to come to Camp Brisket or Barbecue Summer Camp? These camps we conduct with Foodways Texas sell out now in a matter of minutes!
- Ronnie Killen, Killen’s BBQ, Pearland with Blythe Schultz, Davey Griffin, and Ray Riley
- Wrapping briskets with peach paper at Killen’s BBQ, Pearland
- Killen’s BBQ briskets
A trip to Austin would not complete without seeing Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Austin. The rumor was that the line to get a photo with Aaron was almost as long as the line to get his famous barbecue!

Davey Griffin, Ray Riley, Blythe Schultz, Aaron Franklin, Jeff Savell, Michael Berto, and Hillary Henderson
Here is Aaron visiting with our group and slicing briskets for the crowd.
- Aaron Franklin visiting with Blythe Schultz, Kaitlyn Porter, Ray Riley, and Michael Berto
- Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue, Austin
No festival would be complete without having Kerry Bexley and Tootsie Tomanetz from Snow’s BBQ in Lexington in attendance.
We had the chance to meet Israel Compos of Pody’s BBQ in Pecos. Israel had some great looking baby back ribs on his pit when we went by.
- Baby Back ribs from Pody’s BBQ, Pecos
- Pody’s BBQ, Pecos crew with Ray Riley, Davey Griffin, and Jeff Savell
Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller BBQ in Taylor had a variety of products to sample, all of which were outstanding!
- Wayne Mueller and Ray Riley
- Kaitlyn Porter, Blythe Schultz, and Wayne Mueller
Shane and Catherine Stiles of Stiles Switch BBQ in Austin had their usual great food, but most importantly, with them being Aggies, they just love visiting with us!
- Shane Stiles, Stiles Switch BBQ, Davey Griffin, and Ray Riley
- Ray Riley and Catherine Stiles, Stiles Switch BBQ, Austin
Tim Rattray of The Granary ‘Cue and Brew is someone I have had the pleasure of meeting recently and dining at this restaurant in San Antonio. It was great seeing him and sampling some great food, especially the smoked pork belly with jicama. He is another Aggie who is making his mark on the Texas food and beverage scene.
- Tim Rattray, The Granary ‘Cue and Brew, San Antonio with Blythe Schultz
- Jeff Savell and Tim Rattray, The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, San Antonio
Here are some more photos of our friends, both old and new, with our faculty and students. Texas Barbecue is all about great food and great people. What a great opportunity for the Texas A&M University team to be involved with both of these.
- Anthony Compofelice, Daniel Vaughn, Wayne Kammerl, Greg Gatlin, and Wayne Mueller
- Davey Griffin and Greg Gatlin, Gatlin’s BBQ & Catering
- Davey Griffin and Barrett Black, Black’s Barbecue, Lockhart
- Blythe Schultz and Michael Berto
- Davey Griffin, Tim Hutchins, Hutchins BBQ, McKinney, and Ray Riley
- Ray Riley eyeing Pecan Lodge pit
- Justin Fourton, Pecan Lodge, Dallas, and Jeff Savell
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