Smoke wafted through the air and tents displayed various arts and crafts from vendors at the first ever Atmore BBQ Competition and Festival at Tom Byrne Park on Saturday.

The festival, which was a fundraiser for Escambia County High School’s jazz band and Future Business Leaders of America club, had 11 barbecue teams competing in the state barbecue association competition. Some 15 vendors were at the event as well.

Judges scored entries from each team in the chicken, ribs and pork categories. The team that accrued the most points won the category.

The BBQ Grillbillies were crowned grand champions of the competition. The Grillbillies won first place in the ribs and pork categories. Bull & Bones won first in the chicken category.

The BBQ Grillbillies of Turnerville, Ala., is consisted of David Clarke, Shelly Clarke and Gracie Clarke.

Bull & Bones were crowned the reserve grand champion. The team from Theodore is consisted of Steve Hamilton, Debra Hamilton, Tris Lowe and Barbara Lowe.

ECHS Principal Dennis Fuqua said the event went smoothly.

“I thought it was a great first event,” Fuqua said. “I hope that we can build on this and turn it into an event that we can bring to the community year after year.”

Fuqua said for an inaugural event, the turnout was great.

“Everything ran extremely smooth,” he said. “All of the teams were complimentary on the job the town did, and the school did as far as the running of the event. It was a success.”

The top three winners in each category are listed below:

• Chicken

Sneaky Creek of Atmore, third place — 126 points

Triple H of Citronelle, second place — 134 points

Bull & Bones, first place — 138 points

• Ribs

Big G’s Hog Smokers of 8 Mile, third place — 136 points

Triple H, second place — 138 points

Grill Billies, first place — 146

• Pork

Sneaky Creek, third place — 143 points

Bull & Bones, second place — 151

Grill Billies, first place — 153 points