“When I realized that cooking could become a creative outlet for me… that’s when I was hooked.”
– Sterling “Big Poppa” Ball
With more than 30 years of cooking experience, Sterling “Big Poppa” Ball’s passion for cooking outdoors has led him to have his hand in almost every aspect of the barbecue world. From veteran pitmasters to weekend warriors, outdoor cooks across the nation trust Sterling’s taste when it comes to which meats, rubs and sauces to use.
As the head cook of the Big Poppa Smokers BBQ Team, he has won over 140 first place trophies. In addition to those awards, Big Poppa Smokers is the first team west of Oklahoma to win the American Royal Invitational (2012) and has cooked in over 10 different states. Sterling has been the KCBS National Pork champion, Tri-State Champion, 3x CA Team of the Year, inducted into the CA BBQ Hall of Fame, and has consistently ranked in the top 20 in KCBS since 2012.
