The Art C. Klein Construction (ACK) team is the new Grand Champion of the Rocky Mountain Pig Jig, a fundraiser and one-day event featuring an amateur barbecue competition to raise money for Nephcure Kidney International. ACK’s team, led by Perry Bloodworth, took home the Grand Champion prize, as well as First Place in the pork rib category on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at the fourth annual Pig Jig. A team from ACK has participated in the contest for the last four years, “It’s a great cause and there are a lot of really good people involved,” said Bloodworth.
A 21-year employee, Bloodworth is the General Manager of Art C. Klein’s saw cutting division, A Cut Above the Rest. And, though passionate about barbecue, he is completely unwilling to share his winning recipe! “Absolutely not. It’s a secret,” he said. “About two years ago, the chef from the Broadmoor came up to me after the Pig Jig and asked for one of my recipes. I said no to him, too,” he says with a laugh. Asked how he became a meat master, he says that growing up in southeast New Mexico, his family enjoyed a lot of barbecue, primarily smoked with Mesquite.
To become Grand Master of the Pig Jig, the participants must submit in all five categories including the Wild Card division (his smoked whole apple stuffed with brown sugar, butter and pecans, and topped with a cinnamon stick was a hit). Other categories include Ribs, Tri Tip, Pork Butt, and Brisket.
“The team sets-up the day prior, but my wife and I showed up at 3:00 a.m. to fire up the smoker outside of the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. We stay the whole day, presenting the last meat category at 5:45 p.m. The ACK team contributes their time and energy to make the event successful and fun even though this year was cold and rainy.” The ACK team is already planning for 2023 and hopes to repeat their victory.
Rocky Mountain Pig Jig (RMPJ) is a local non-profit organization that produces the annual event, which includes an amateur barbecue contest, live music and family- friendly activities held at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry . The financial success of RMPJ depends on business sponsorships, volunteers, and in-kind support. This year, the festival raised $84,000 for NephCure Kidney International , the only non profit organization committed to supporting research, improving treatment and finding a cure for protein-spilling kidney diseases.
Interested in putting together a team for Pig Jig? Contact Jenny Bergeron.
Would you like to join the team at Art C. Klein Construction? Check out the open positions here.
