[RangerJurena]

Howdy!

My name is Wesley and the wife and I relocated here in December and currently reside in Gilbert. I was raised in Houston, Texas and attempted my first brisket at 18.  It eneded up looking like a charcoal briquet and in the trash can.  25 years later, I've become proficient at Ribs, Brisket and Chicken.  Never attempted pork other than ribs as beef is the meat of choice in Texas.

I use to have an old 55 gallon drum that I cooked on.  Carted it all across the United States while in the Army. Stops where it was smoking include Savannah, Ga. Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Fayetteville, NC.  The bottom burned out after about 10 years.

After leaving military life, I purchased the following pit for my larger smokes about 7 years ago.

http://www.texaspitcrafters.com/detail.aspx?ID=13

This has traveled with me from Houston to Boise, Idaho to Dallas, Texas and now here in Gilbert.

Current line up includes a Charmglow gas grill for burgers and dogs, a Weber Kettle for most everything and the Pit Crafter for the bigger cuts of meet.

While I've never participated in a BBQ cook off, I've certainly been to the Big One in Houston many times and would like to in the future. I'd like to someday own my own place as I enjoy meeting people over good food. 

I'll post some pics of the grills later.

Thanks for having me!

[Mike (AZBarbeque)]

Wesley,

Welcome to the site, great to have you, sounds like you are afflicted with same passion as most of us here. 

Looking forward to meeting you in person at one of our upcoming events, we should have a great end of the year here.

Can't wait to see the pictures as well as we love pictures over here.

Where in Houston did you live?  I lived in Katy for a few years.

Welcome again.

Mike

[BERNIETHEK]

Hey Wesley,  My name is Bernie and I also live in Gilbert (crossroads are Guadalupe and McQueen).  I've never competed but love to judge and just hang out.  The guys on this site are great and Mike (our leader) is one of the best you'll ever meet.  Welcome abord. If you'd like let me know and we can get together and shoot the bull. Coming from Texas are you into chili.
Bernie

[Thom Emery]

Welcome

[toys4dlr]

Welcome Ranger,

Hope to see you at some of the comps or events.  Maybe you can help me out with my brisket, there is a lot of beer in it for you.

David

[AzQer]

Welcome to the Club Pard. Sounds like we will be seeing ya soon at some of the get togethers and comps see ya soon.

[Quiggs]

Welcome Wesley, I too am former Texan (Lewisville a bit north of Dallas) almost moved to Boise ID and now am third time AZer. So heck we almost related!  Check out the big competition coming up in November and come a say hello!

Dave Q

[rvriggs]

Welcome Wesley. Yeah GO BEEF!!
Raising Beef is my livelihood. If you ever get down to southeast AZ, look me up.

Robin Riggs

[goatsmoker]

welcome wesley great to have you aboard,

[RangerJurena]

Thanks for the warm ( literally as this is my first summer here) welcome.

A few quick responses:

Originally lived in Alief, Texas which is a suburb of Houston off 59 South.  Very familar with Katy and 1-10 West ( still under construction as usual).

Chili? Yes, love it and experimented with a few pots and did decent.  Later would become lazy or more focused on the "thrill of the grill" and decide a Wick Fowlers mix worked just as well.  Blasphemy, I know. If you want to try and cook some together, let me know.  With this yard full of rocks, I sure seem to have more time on my hands on the weekend.

I lived in Highland Village while in Dallas, which is basically Lewisville, just south of the lake, so it is a small world.

Somehow, without ever competing I don't think you'd need my help with Brisket. I'm the Grand Champion of my backyard, but I don't know if I'd want you risking your entry fee on it.  However, I can be bribed with beer!

Hopefully, I answered all the questions and again, thanks for having me.