Fowl Hogz Barbeque was founded in 2016 as a competition barbecue team. The team was built on Matt Riggs' lifelong love for barbecue, which he gained from his family at a young age. Over time, Matt began experimenting with various flavors and cooking techniques, but North Carolina Barbecue always remained his passion. While attending East Carolina University, Matt was exposed to the tangy vinegar flavors of many iconic Eastern, NC barbecue joints. During his travels across North Carolina, he would often stop at different BBQ joints to compare their offerings to those he had already sampled. Each visit fueled his addiction to barbecue even more. Matt, his wife Kimberly, and their close friend Lee found themselves grilling, smoking, and experimenting with different BBQ delicacies and flavors. These experiments eventually led to a desire to take their skills to the next level and start entering BBQ competitions.

Before entering a competition, they needed a name. After discussing several options, Fowl Hogz consistently rose to the top. In 2016, after weeks of debate, the Fowl Hogz team name and Gristle the Fowl Hog were born. Since then, Gristle has represented the Fowl Hogz team wherever they go. The friends participated in their first competition and received their first recognition for their chicken. Though they didn't win, this taste of success further fueled their desire to compete. However, life has a way of changing plans, and sometimes dreams must be put on hold.

With two young children and a busy work schedule, the Riggs family moved to Durham, North Carolina, Matt's family home, to raise their children. Soon after, the Riggs met the Mitchell family at their local church, and a quick bond formed. They found themselves cooking for large church events, exploring different culinary experiences, and traveling together. Naturally, barbecue was at the center of many of these experiences. Even though Fowl Hogz wasn't competing, they continued to refine their skills and recipes. In 2021, Fowl Hogz returned to competitions and won first place in an "Anything But" category. They followed that up with another win in a rib cook-off. Later in 2021, the Riggs and Mitchell families formed FH Provisions to sell and distribute the products and recipes they developed through practicing and competing in barbecue competitions.

​

On behalf of both families, we hope you enjoy our recipes and products and that they bring you happiness and success as you create memories in your life!