Rex Kutzer is a New Braunfels land and ranch real estate agent. Bobby Rey Delgado a San Antonio welding student.
In their spare time, Kutzer, 32, and Delgado, 20, sling meat on the grill.
They rank among the best pitmasters anywhere.
This past weekend, Kutzer’s team, Bar KR Cookers, finished third overall at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s 29th annual Bar-B-Que Cook-Off.
In a field of more than 330 entrants from 10 countries and six states, Bar KR Cookers took third in brisket, 15th in chicken, 29th in ribs, 57th in dessert and 67th in ribeye in individual events.
The competition included Jason Dady and Two Bros. BBQ Market, Carlos Casanova with Casanova Barbecue Co. and Smoke Shack BBQ.
“To finish third as a team against such amazing talent and competition from around the world is truly a blessing from God and a testament to all the hard work from everyone on our team,” said Kutzer, team captain, head cook and a Realtor with the San Antonio division of JBGoodwin Realtors.
“Everyone on the team has a full-time job with the exception of our big three meat guy, Bobby Rey Delgado. He’s a full-time welding student. We do this because we love it and enjoy making memories and laughs with the barbecue community.”
Proceeds from the rodeo cook-off benefits the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Scholarship Fund.
A team from Mexico, headed by chief cook Mauricio Mendoza, was named Grand Champion. A Laredo team led by chief cook Tony Gonzalez finished second overall.
The third place team, Bar KR Cookers, includes Delgado’s mother, Mary Delgado, along with Kiefer Ryno and Doug Motal.
Bobby Rey Delgado — “Bubba” to his friends — studies at Southern Careers Institute, San Antonio North. He started grilling at 15 and became a quick study, winning several awards. In December, he took first place in brisket at the Briscoe Ranch Barbecue Cook-off.
Capturing third on Saturday against an international field provided another thrill. He used a Texas rib grain rub, a last call seasoning and a headcount apple habanero sauce on his brisket.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” Delgado said. “All I can do is thank the man upstairs. He’s the one that allows me to keep going every day and accomplish these things.”
The rodeo cook-off drew most of its entrants from Texas. But the field also included pitmasters from Louisiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arkansas and Nebraska.
Other competitors came from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Venezuela, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Columbia.
“This was our first time cooking together as a team without Bubba’s dad,” Kutzer said. “His dad cooked with me the past two to three years. But this year, Bubba was finally old enough to cook in the cook-off division after many years of success in the junior division.”
