A farm-to-fork BBQ dinner and pitmaster competition, and an afternoon in the country before the first plate is served.
Meet the animals, watch four teams finish a long, slow cook, and sit down to heritage pork smoked low and slow. Limited tickets.
Stay in the loop and be the first to know when tickets go on sale: text BBQ to 704.686.8883.
Save the Date: True Que III
Saturday 10/2/27 at True Cut Ranch
A Day at True Que
The moment you turn off the road, the day starts slowing down.
It's a quarter-mile drive from our gate to the event, and by the time you park, you won't be able to see the road behind you anymore. That's on purpose. Take it slow. You've got a whole afternoon ahead of you.
Wander over to visit the cows, sheep, and pigs, and pick up an apple treat if you want to make a friend. The cows will eat right out of your hand, the pigs will come running, and the sheep will say their hellos. Peek in on guinea keets in the brooder too. There's a step stool so the younger kids can get a look through the viewing window.
Say hello to the flock.
Watch four teams finish a long, slow cook.
By the time the gate opens, our four competing teams have already been at it since the night before. You'll catch them in the home stretch: pulling pork, checking the fire, plating up, smoke still rising. Every ticket comes with 5 votes to cast for your favorite team at their station. Winner takes the $500 prize and the belt.
This isn't a catered event, it's a working farm. Say hi to the family who raised the pork and the pitmasters who are about to serve it to you.
Meet your farmer. Meet your chefs.
More than dinner
Step into the red barn and browse the new farm store while you're here, including a special meat bundle if you want to take a little of the farm home with you.
Shop the farm store.
The catch-and-release pond is open to guests, with benches nearby if you'd rather just sit and watch the water.
Cast a line.
Door Prizes from Cooksville Equipment
Enter to win awesome door prizes!
Two door prize winners will take home a Greenworks 82V 1.5kW String Trimmer or a 82V 20" 3.4kW Chainsaw to help keep your home looking great. Stop by the Cooksville Equipment playground to enter.
Get hands-on with the equipment that runs the farm.
Thanks to Cooksville Equipment, there's a hands-on playground where you can try out the machines and tools that keep a working farm running.
Meet the True Que BBQ Teams
Smolder N Smoke
Bart Weber from Hickory, NC returns to defend his title. Check out his Smolder N Smoke food truck.
8:28 Farms
A fellow farmer and trained chef, Greg Shell returns to True Que for a second year. Greg also raises heritage hogs at his family farm in Conover, NC.
Charlie’s Chop Shop
Based in Conover NC, Charles and Tom look forward to competing at their first True Que in 2026, especially since Charles is a graduate of the nearby Bunker Hill High School.
Pop’s BBQ and Catering
We’re very excited to welcome Maiden’s favorite barbecue food truck, Pop’s BBQ and Catering, to True Que for the first time in 2026.
We welcome all four teams for this half hog, heritage pork, on farm competition! All ticket holders will get five votes to help choose the winner of this “People’s Choice” barbecue competition.
What’s for dinner
Heritage pork, smoked low and slow by the competing teams, plus collard greens, mac and cheese, beans and slaw – all the sides you'd want at a Saturday cookout. Tea, lemonade, and water are included, with beer, wine, and seltzer available to purchase. Dessert is local fruit cobbler and Riverbend Creamery ice cream, served at 6pm.
True Que event schedule
3:00pm – Gates open for early entry guests who bought before August 31.
3:00pm – Animal interactions begin. Cookesville Equipment playground opens.
4:00pm — Event officially opens and the dinner bell rings! Start enjoying BBQ from all four competition teams plus every side dish. Live music from Cameron Matthews begins.
6:00pm — Dessert time! Help yourself to local fruit cobbler and local ice cream.
6:00pm — Last call for votes!
6:30pm — Winner is announced! Who will win the $500 cash prize and competition belt?
8:00pm — Thanks for coming! See you again for True Que 3 on Saturday, October 2, 2027.
Cameron Matthews performance begins at 4pm
The True Que vibe
Casual and relaxing, like a big backyard BBQ, not a formal event. Works just as well for a family outing as it does for a date night or a night out with friends. Coming with a crowd? Table sales are open now, seating for 8 at a picnic table in Creekview or 10 at a table and chairs in the big party tent.
Email melissa@truecutranch.com with questions, or reserve your table online.
Location
True Cut Ranch
5221 Bolick Rd
Claremont, NC 28610
Convenient to I-40
Near Statesville, Hickory, Town of Catawba, and Conover
Please do not bring your dogs, cats, iguanas, guinea pigs, parakeets, turtles, or any other pets to True Que. We’ll provide plenty of animals for you to enjoy!
No pets
FAQ
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Yes.
Reserve a picnic table at Creekview, our covered picnic area at the red barn, for 8 people or a table and chairs inside the big party tent for 10 people.
If you'd like a name, logo, or both displayed at your reserved table please send that to melissa@truecutranch.com by 9/26.
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Water, tea, and lemonade are included in your ticket. Beer, wine, and seltzer will be available for purchase.
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No, pets are not allowed.
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You get to be the judge! This is a people's choice competition so each ticket holder will get five votes total to give to one or more of their favorite teams. All the votes will be counted and the champion will receive a $500 cash prize plus True Que competition belt during the event.
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A feast of pork bbq, side dishes, and dessert.
New for 2027: hush puppy station included with unlimited hush puppies throughout the event.
Animal interactions including feeding apples to cows, pigs, and sheep.
Water, tea, lemonade.
Parking.
Live music from Cameron Matthews. -
We'll have plenty of covered areas inside the red barn, at Creekview, and under the big party tent. This is the main reason that tickets will be limited, so don't wait to reserve your spot. Get your ticket now so you don't miss out on all the autumn fun at this farm feast!
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Yes, the farm store will be open during the entire True Que event. Come inside to check out our farm raised meats, handcrafted tallow products, other great local products, and lots of organic options. The farm store is located inside the red barn.