About the Board

Started in 2015, Smoking in the Foothills Nonprofit strives to encourage and foster opportunities for community engagement within Caldwell County while simultaneously promoting and supporting economic development initiatives that further enrich and improve the quality of life experiences in our hometown.

Smoking in the Foothills Nonprofit will accomplish these aspirations by hosting quality events and activities for citizens and families to enjoy; promoting actions that encourage continued economic growth and vitality; and fostering volunteerism with numerous community organizations and individuals. 

About Smoking In The Foothills

We  wood  like to share with you a little bit about who we are and  what we  celebrate at the Smoking in the Foothills BBQ Competition and Festival.


Wood. Here in Lenoir, the beauty of the North Carolina woods surround us. On any given day we can hike Hibriten Mountain, follow the trails that wind along Wilson Creek, or look up through the towering pines of the Pisgah National Forest. It’s no wonder these plentiful timber woods have inspired highly skilled wood craftsmen here since the 1800’s. From raw material, inspired design, grit and hard work, they created some of the most elegant works of wooden art and furniture our country has ever seen and continue to do so today. Our rich history as a world-class furniture and manufacturing hub gave us our hard-working ethic in craftsmanship and the arts.

Fire. Present here for more than a century and driven by a fiery passion, creators are  now bringing with them new technologies, imagination, and ideas that fill data centers, biotech labs, furniture tech labs, distilleries, breweries and art studios. We admire our    creative, caring community and are on fire to give back! Each year we work with non-profits and make it our mission to help support theirs.

Smoke. Whether it's oak, maple, cherry, and pecan, or hickory, mesquite, and apple, nothing beats the flavor of wood smoke, and flavor is what this BBQ competition and festival is all about. This Kansas  City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event is         guaranteed to smoke up some of the best BBQ chicken, pork, ribs and brisket you have ever had! You don't want to miss our People's Choice  experience! And don't be surprised to find  our smokey flavors finding their way to the taps!




Check out our festival brochure below to learn more!

Thank You to

Our 2019 Sponsors!

2019 Board Members

  • Mike Kilby
  • Diane Kilby
  • Doug Terry
  • Richard Hedrick
  • Kathy Hutchings
  • Matt Underwood
  • ​Johnny Overby
  • Bill Carr
  • Joseph Gibbons
  • Becky Gibbons
  • Kaylynn Horn
  • Kyle Case