These Rising Pitmasters Show Why the Story of Black Barbecue is Just Getting Started

In 2021, Kingsford launched its Preserve the Pit® program, an initiative celebrating and fueling the future of Black barbecue. Kingsford continues to invest in Black barbecue culture by kicking off its second year at Memphis in May in the downtown district of Memphis, Tennessee. There, Kingsford did it for the culture and paired six promising pitmasters with topnotch mentors who will help them bring their businesses and barbecue stories to life. 

As grills everywhere sizzle with the best sound of summer, Kingsford is still celebrating the zesty barbecue its 2022 Preserve the Pit® fellows whipped up on the fairgrounds of Memphis, Tennessee. We recently introduced you to three of Kingford’s six fellows, and now we’re ready to introduce you to the rest: Marvin Ross of Peculiar Pig Farm in Dorchester, SC; Cameron Brooks of Brooks BBQ and Chicken in Fort Wayne, IN; Joseph and Laura Payne of JP’s Que in Aurora, IL; Donnell Crear of Sunbelt Packaging in Smyrna, GA. 

Each fellow has a different background and a different story to tell, and each tale is as captivating as the food they create. 

Marvin Ross