Fred Robles knows meat. A butcher by trade and owner of Rio Valley Meats in Weslaco, Texas, Fred entered his first barbecue competition with a borrowed smoker and a love for barbecue. After placing fifth in chicken during his first competition, he was hooked. Since then, he has been awarded hundreds of first-place categories, 95 Grand and Reserve Grand Championships, and was recently named the 2019 American Royal World Champion and 2019 National BBQ Grand Champion.