EffingHAM-JAM BBQ Cookoff

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EffingHAM-JAM BBQ Cookoff

EffingHAM-JAM, presented by the Effingham County Chamber and Koerner Distributor, Inc., is your one-stop celebration with something for everyone to enjoy!

Put some pork on your fork at EffingHAM-JAM July 22-23 in Downtown Effingham. Mark Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 on your calendar to join us in downtown Effingham, IL for the EffingHAM-JAM and Kansas City BBQ Society State BBQ Championship, sponsored by Koerner Distributor, Inc. Thanks to the City of Effingham, participants will be able to move around the event area with beverages purchase

d at the beer tent. Friday evening’s Hometown Throwdown local BBQ competition, presented by Big Papa's, HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, & Patterson Technology, sets the stage for a weekend of great BBQ, music, food, and fun! Your team of amateur BBQ enthusiasts can compete for category trophies, Top Hog, or the Grand Champion team! Local band, The Troubadours, will be live at 5:30pm opening for Loose Lips (formerly known as Fish On) featuring Effingham’s own Myles Baker, performing from 7-10:30 pm. Saturday is the official KCBS State Championship Competition, but there will be plenty of other things for families to enjoy, starting off with the popular Effingham Farmer’s Market at 8am, Pancakes & Coffee at 9am, Vendors & Children's Activities, sponsored by CEFS, at 10am. Information & applications for competitors & vendors are now available at www.effinghamjam.com. Spaces for food & non-food vendors are available for $125-$175 per booth for the entire weekend. Interested in sponsoring? There are many ways you can help support this event and the Chamber Foundation of Effingham County. Information about HAM-JAM sponsorships can be found on the HAM-JAM website (www.effinghamjam.com) or by calling Nicole Morrison, Director of Marketing & Communications, at the Chamber office at 217-342-4147.

*all subject to change/cancellation

06/03/2026

The smokers will be hot. The music will be loud. Downtown will be packed.

HAM JAM, presented by Koerner Distributor Inc., returns July 17.

effinghamjam.com

05/28/2026

Your summer plans just got a little smokier!

EffingHAM-JAM, presented by Koerner Distributor, Inc., is back July 17 with backyard BBQ bragging rights, good food, cold drinks, and plenty of hometown flavor.

Mark the calendar. Grab the shades. Prepare your tastebuds. 🐖

Shoutout to our Social Media Sponsor, Eco-Trim217, for helping us bring the HAM-JAM fun to your feed.

https://effinghamjam.com/

02/19/2026

🔥 SAVE THE DATE — JULY 17 🔥

EffingHAM-JAM BBQ is BACK.

Mark your calendars and start stretching those taste buds because downtown Effingham is about to smell like sweet smoke and serious competition.

Think sizzling grills. Backyard bragging rights. Sauce on your fingers. Music in the air. 🍗🎶 And a little extra adrenaline with a Ham City Jam skating demo bringing the energy to the streets.

Want in?

🥩 Compete in the Hometown Throwdown
🛍️ Register as a vendor
🤝 Become a sponsor and get your brand in front of the crowd

However you show up — behind the grill, in a booth, or cheering with a plate in hand — July 17 in Experience Downtown Effingham is the place to be.

For now… circle it. Star it. Tell your crew.

https://effinghamjam.com/

Effingham County Chamber Koerner Distributor, Inc. John Boos & Co. D-no Tull

12/07/2025

Effingham County Chamber, D-no Tull, Visit Effingham & WCIA 3 News are worldwide! 📺 ⭐️

America's Funniest Home Videos featured a clip from our 2024 EffingHAM-JAM BBQ Cookoff event!

07/20/2025

🔥 That’s a wrap on the 2025 EffingHAM-JAM, presented by Koerner Distributor, Inc., and the results are in!

A huge shoutout to all our competitors who brought the flavor, smoke, and fun to this year’s Hometown Throwdown BBQ competition, sponsored by Land of Lincoln Credit Union.

🥇 Grand Champion: Wonkey Donkey ( #538)

Top Amateur: Wonkey Donkey ( #538)
Top Corporate: Table for Twelve ( #525)

Category Winners:
Pork Butt:
🥇 Wonkey Donkey ( #132)
🥈 John Boos & Co. ( #130)

Turkey Breast:
🥇 Table for Twelve ( #137)
🥈 Smoked Backyard BBQ ( #131)

Chicken Wings:
🥇Southridge Smokers ( #138)
🥈 Table for Twelve ( #133)

Chef’s Choice:
🥇 Wonkey Donkey ( #144)
🥈 Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill ( #141)

📸 Stay tuned—event photos will be shared soon!

Another HUGE thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, and all who came out to help celebrate our 10th anniversary. You made it one smokin’ good time!

07/17/2025

The countdown is sizzling! We’re just TWO days away from HAM JAM’s 10th anniversary—and things are heating up in downtown Effingham!

BBQ, beer, live music, foam party fun, and more—it’s going to be a pig deal. 🐖🔥

Don’t miss it this Friday, July 18!

https://effinghamjam.com

07/15/2025

Who’s feelin’ lucky?🍀

For just $10, you could roll home with a John Boos & Co. Butcher Block Table or a Weber Q1200 Gas Grill from The Equity—just in time for summer cookouts!

🎟 Less than 200 tickets available • Winner drawn LIVE at EffingHAM-JAM 2025 - 10th Anniversary on Friday, July 18!

All proceeds fuel the Chamber Scholarship Program—support students while shooting your shot at epic prizes!

Grab your ticket at:
•https://effinghamjam.com
•https://checkout.page/s/NEfoLcb78Hue6
•or swing by the Chamber Office

07/14/2025

It’s EffingHAM-JAM BBQ Cookoff week and we are stoked!

Experience Downtown Effingham is the place to be this Friday, July 18 for an evening full of BBQ, brews, live music, and community fun.

Country artist Thomas Mac is headlining—and he’ll tell you himself! (Check out his video below 👇)

🍖 BBQ Competition
🎉 Kids Area with Wild Foam Adventures, bubbles, chalk art, face painting & Touch-A-Truck
🛹 HAMCITYJAM 15 demo
🍻 Koerner Distributor, Inc. Beer Garden
🧁 Food Trucks
🎸 Live Music
🎟️ $10 raffle tickets for a John Boos & Co. butcher block table or The Equity Weber Q1200 grill

And it’s all for a great cause—proceeds from HAM-JAM support the Chamber Scholarship Program, helping local students and adult learners continue their education.

Let’s make this 10th anniversary one to remember!

https://effinghamjam.com

02/27/2025

We’re going Whole Hog for our 10th Anniversary!

Mark your calendars—EffingHAM-JAM, presented by Koerner Distributor, Inc., is turning 10 on Friday, July 18!

This isn’t just any BBQ festival—it’s a decade in the making, and we’re pulling out all the stops!

🔥 Hometown Throwdown Amateur BBQ Competition
🎶 Live Music & Entertainment
🛹 HAM City JAM
💦 Wild Foam Adventures Kids Party + more
🍖 Mouthwatering BBQ, Drinks & More!

Think you’ve got the best BBQ in town? Gather your team and compete for trophies, cash prizes, and the Grand Champion title!

The best part? ALL net proceeds support the Chamber Foundation of Effingham County Scholarship Program, helping local students chase their dreams!

📅 Save the date & stay tuned for more details!
🔗 https://effinghamjam.com/

John Boos & Co.
The City of Effingham
Visit Effingham
HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital Effingham
Wabash Communications CO-OP
Rumpke Waste & Recycling
979 XFM
SIR Investigations
The Marxman Group
Effingham County Chamber
-no Tull

Address

100 E Jefferson Street
Effingham, IL
62401

Website

http://www.effinghamjam.com/

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