Bacon Bash Texas 2012: The Year It All Began
Before Bacon Bash Texas became a full-blown Hill Country tradition… before 2,000 people lined up for bacon samples each October… before we raised more than $1,000,000 for Niki Warms the Cold and children with Type 1 Diabetes… there was a chilly Saturday afternoon in Cranfills Gap, Texas.
- Date: November 10, 2012
- A grassy lot across from The Horny Toad.
- Twenty teams. A handful of volunteers. A big idea.
- And a whole lot of bacon.
No one there that day could’ve guessed what this tiny first bash would eventually grow into. But the magic was already there — smoky grills, good people, a big purpose, and the kind of small-town energy that makes strangers feel like family.
This wasn’t just a cook-off. It was the start of something really special!
Where It Happened: Cranfills Gap, Texas
There’s something perfect about launching a bacon festival in a town with fewer people than most high school graduating classes.
Cranfills Gap showed up.
The Horny Toad threw open its doors.
And ticket holders came ready to eat, drink, vote, and celebrate the very first Bacon Bash Texas.
It was strictly 21+, $65 a ticket, and every guest left with a swag bag, a commemorative cup, and enough vouchers for beer and bacon to keep the afternoon fun. But what they really walked into was a brand-new Texas tradition.
The Food That Started the Legend
For the inaugural year, teams went all out. They didn’t show up with simple bacon appetizers — they showed up with food that would’ve dominated any cook-off in the state.
🥇 1st Place — Back Door Catering Co.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Diablo with Jalapeño Cream-Style Corn and Cilantro Sauce
This dish set the tone for Bacon Bash teams: bold, layered, smoky, creative, and absolutely unforgettable.
🥈 2nd Place — The Trouble With Those Guys (La Pasadita)
They delivered Pigadillo, Bacon Bread Pudding, Bison and Bacon Meatballs, Strawberry Bacon Shooters, and their own twist on Chicken Diablo. Overachievers in the best possible way.
🥉 3rd Place — Babes of Bacon
Their Apple Bacon Savory Bread Pudding is still talked about today.
4th Place — J5 Cookers
Bacon Wrapped Strawberries with Cream Cheese Filling — the sleeper hit of the year.
5th Place — Epic Loins
Grilled Bison Meatballs Wrapped in Bacon — smoky, hearty, perfect.
People’s Choice — Hell I Don’t Know
Yes, that really was the team name. And yes, the people loved them.
The Purpose Behind the Party
The heart of Bacon Bash Texas has always been charity — and in 2012, it was all about Niki Covers the Cold, the nonprofit inspired by the compassion of Niki Carlson, who dreamed of keeping blankets in her car to give to anyone facing the cold.
That dream became a movement.
And that movement became this event.
The first Bash helped fuel Niki’s mission, and attendees were encouraged to bring coats and blankets for a special raffle. People showed up with armfuls.
Even in year one, it wasn’t just a food festival. It was a give-back festival.
The Side Attractions That Made 2012 Legendary
Even with world-class bacon dishes, the extras almost stole the show:
The Bacon Shakin’ Shack
Run by the one and only Kent Wenzel, this booth delivered:
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Bacon “shakes”
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Bacon-rimmed beer
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And the first-ever “shake your bacon” one-liners
It was loud, ridiculous, and absolutely perfect.
Pederson’s Test Kitchen
A sneak peek at Pederson’s new products — each sample raising $1 for charity.
The “Don’t Go Bacon My Heart” Karaoke Contest
Was it legal to use Elton John’s music? Unclear. Would anyone have actually known that was what we were attempting? Never.
Was it iconic? Absolutely.
Live music, cold beer, and a full-on after-party inside The Horny Toad
Because every good Texas festival needs a honky-tonk finish.
The Judges Who Crowned the First Champions
Bacon Bash 2012 didn’t just bring teams — it brought serious food talent:
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Daniel Vaughn — Texas Monthly BBQ Snob
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Nicole Davenport — Chopped champion & chef
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Ellen Gradel — Food & Wine journalist
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M. Brady Clark — Designer of Omaha’s 80-ft bacon artwork
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Homer Jones — Sysco Meat Safety Specialist
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Lynette Smith — R&D Chef for major national restaurants
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Todd Sanders — Private chef
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Aspen Burkhardt — Research Chef
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James Lively — JP and restaurant chef
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Kristy Kuykendall — Head Judge
When this crew names a winner… it means something.
The Very First Bacon Eating Contest
If you were there, you remember it.
If you weren’t… imagine a crowd yelling over a table stacked with crispy fried bacon while competitors tried to eat an entire pound in five minutes. Then another pound.
It was chaos.
It was amazing.
It was peak Texas.
The winner was crowned King or Queen of Bacon in a ceremony worthy of royalty.
The Teams of 2012
Twenty teams signed up that first year — some seasoned, some nervous, all ready to cook something unforgettable:
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Backdoor Catering Co.
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The Trouble with Those Guys
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Babes of Bacon
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J5 Cookers
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Epic Loins
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Bootlegger 1
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Hell I Don’t Know
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La Pasadita BBQ Team
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Get R Done
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And many more small-town legends
They didn’t just cook — they set the tone for every team that came after.
What That First Year Sparked
Since that very first Bacon Bash in 2012, here’s what has grown from that little grassy lot:
💛 $1,000,000+ raised and given back to charitable causes
Including:
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$252,084 to Niki Warms the Cold
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$22,251 to JDRF
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Additional support to Camp New Day, Love Like You Mean It, Charlie’s Helping Hands, Veterans causes, and more
💛 174 scholarships awarded to kids with Type 1 Diabetes
Across:
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Camp scholarships (Camp Sweeney + others)
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CGM (Dexcom/Libre) scholarships
💛 $525,128.08 invested directly in T1D kids since 2015
Those numbers began with a tiny ticketed cook-off in 2012.
Today, Bacon Bash Texas is one of the most impactful (and definitely the most delicious) charity events in the state.
From 2012 to Today
If you were at the first Bacon Bash Texas, you witnessed the spark that lit everything that came after.
If you’re reading this now, you’re part of the story we’re still writing.
And if you’re wondering what a small-town bacon festival can grow into…
Come see for yourself.
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