Our Story
This is the story of Jeff and Joy Stehney and their company, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. In 1990, they attended their first barbecue contest at a friend’s invitation.
Jeff"We had a great time. I loved everything about it. The smoke. The smell of it. The camaraderie. The competition. The passion. And, of course, the food. I was hooked. I knew then and there this was something I had to do."
They soon bought a smoker and, with a few friends, formed a team called Slaughterhouse Five. It wasn’t long before they were winning big—taking home trophies from contests like the Lenexa Kansas State BBQ Championship, the American Royal Open, and the Invitational.
Read more of the history below, including the story of the legendary Z-Man and how it got its name.
The Full History of Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Championship BBQ
Before they were award-winning restaurateurs, our owners, Jeff and Joy Stehney, were award-winning barbecue cooks. Their competition barbecue team, named Slaughterhouse Five, has won some of America's most prestigious barbecue contests. Here is a sampling:
