When an EF5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, it killed 161 people and reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble. Traditional relief efforts struggled to keep pace with the devastation.
Stan Hays, an insurance agent from Pleasant Hill who participated in local barbecue competitions on weekends, watched the news coverage with a growing sense of helplessness. His wife, Amy, asked, “Why not gather your barbecue friends and go feed people?” The next morning, Hays called his mentor, Jeff Stith, who immediately agreed. Stith posted on social media and started recruiting.
Will Cleaver, a Blue Springs pitmaster who had competed against Hays and Stith but didn’t know them personally, saw the post. He had connections to Joplin from his college days and was inspired to join the effort…