FEBRUARY 13-14, 2026

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Smokin on the Rio

Smokin’ on the Rio, now a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BBQ Cook-Off, was established in 2004 by a group of local businessmen with the goal of raising money in support of youth agricultural projects in the Rio Grande Valley.

William Beckmann

594075501 1383713667098661 6247926201665561871 nMaking modern country music with a refined edge, emerging Warner Records Nashville artist William Beckmann embodies timeless, sophisticated swagger, with songs built for the mainstream, but also built to last. With his first major label album, Whiskey Lies & Alibis, the young Texas native joins a retro revival in the modern format’s core, and pushes it further down the road. A student of the classics – from classic country to classic pop, classic rock, and even classic mariachi – Beckmann grew up in the border town of Del Rio, Texas, enamored with the classic cool of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Frank Sinatra, plus the Eagles, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Strait, and the traditional Mexican music of his bilingual roots. Developing a deep, dark-honey baritone with natural vibrato, he first found a foothold on the Texas tour circuit, dressed to kill and with a timeless sound to match. After catching the attention of hometown hero Radney Foster (who helped dial in his classically-charged songwriting), and Randy Rogers (who took the young artist on tour, helping craft a stately stage magnetism), two self-styled EPs and a 2023 Opry debut built Beckmann’s buzz, along with tours with Parker McCollum, Charley Crockett, and more. Co-writing eight of 12 songs with elite hit makers such as Jessie Jo Dillion, Jesse Frasure, and Rhett Akins, Beckmann’s neo-classic signature is clear on Whiskey Lies & Alibis. With an organic sound defined by dusky baritone guitars and pedal steel, plus a rumbling, resonate vocal, it captures the vast loneliness of a windblown desert landscape, and the throbbing pulse of a honky tonk with equal power. And central to each track, lies the bitter sting of lost love. After playing more than 100 shows a year in 2022 and 2023, Beckmann now returns to the road with a bold mission in mind: Not just to cosplay the classic country style, but to bring its values back, with head held high.

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Smokin on the Rio Sponsors

Grillin' Supporters

  • Billie D Simpsom
  • CoBank
  • Depot Crop Ins
  • Doggett - John Deere
  • HEB
  • K-K Polled Brahmans
  • Lone Star Citrus Growers
  • MVEC
  • Ross Gin
  • Texas First Rental
  • Weslaco Elk's
  • Texas Regional Bank
  • Rio Bank

Smokin On The Rio 2025 Sponsors

HEB
City of Mercedes
Mercedes EDC
3C Ag Services
Boots N' Jeans
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Sellman
Dickerson Farms
Glazer's Beer & Beverage
Krenmueller Farms
MVEC
Ryner Construction
Ross Gin
Texas National Bank
Wadkins & Associates Insurance
A-W Produce
Capital Farm Credit

 

Cita's Boutique - Harlingen
Cita's Boutique - Brownsville
Doggett Heavy Equipment
Gowan Seed Company
Lackey Financial
Nowell Borders LP
Rio Bank
Simplot
Texas Regional Bank
Wilbur Ellis
Mr. Billie D Simpsom
Chapotal Farms
Depot Crop Insurance
Frontera Materials
KBW Supply
The Medicine Shop
Reid Farms

 

Ron Hoover
Texas First Rental
Valent USA, LLC
Mrs. Audrey Eoff
Bicycle World RGV
Crop Guard Insurance
Foremost Paving
Hovada Farms
Lone Star Citrus Growers
Payne Auto Group
Rios of Mercedes Boot Co.
Sun Valley Dusting
Timothy Belcher Farms
McAfee Insurance
Bullrider Western Wear
Davis Equity
Freedom Bank

 

Johnny's True Value Hardware
Mr. and Mrs Mark Brunnemann
Progreso Coop
Mr. and Mrs. Robert McAllen
Texas Farm Credit
Troy Bradford Farms
Amigo Loan
Burton Companies
Cooper Concessions
Eberle Materials
Hanka Sod LLC
Listos Properties
Mr. and Mrs. Paul McDaniel
Rio Rico Farms
Southern Star Transport
Thomas Charolais
Xtreme Outdoors

 

Smokin' on the Rio

Smokin’ on the Rio World Championship BBQ Cook-Off was established in 2004 by a group of local businessmen with the goal of raising money in support of youth agricultural projects in the Rio Grande Valley. 

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