Inside the Small Batch World of Oakridge BBQ with Mike Trump

Welcome to another episode of the BBQ Beat Podcast… I’m your host… Kevin Sandridge.

You know, more and more in today’s BBQ world, you hear people use words like hand-crafted and small-batch… so much so that it’s hard to tell if we’re all really on the same page when using these terms.

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Mike Trump of Oakridge BBQ, maker of rubs that fit the definition of words like hand-crafted, small-batch, and even batch-aged.

View this post on Instagram

Almost ten years ago, I started Oakridge BBQ with just two primary objectives; to honor God and to make the Very Best BBQ rub I could. This pursuit of perfection would lead me to a critical decision very early on — to not rely on a co-packer to make Oakridge BBQ, instead I would make it myself. Looking back, I really had no idea what all that decision would entail… sourcing the very best ingredients, developing new products all by myself, dealing with crazy regulations, marketing, growing pains, building our own production facility, personnel issues, supplier shortages, nearly dying (twice), etc, etc, etc.. Through it all I have kept it 100% hand made by us. Flash forward nearly ten years and this month Oakridge BBQ has crossed a threshold I never dreamed would happen. We have hand-made over 250,000 pounds of barbecue rub. That's over a quarter of a MILLION pounds of barbecue rub. Let that sink in for a minute. So, after a quarter of a million pounds and over 7,000 top ten awards — more documented awards than any other brand in the history of competition barbecue — why is Oakridge BBQ different? These hands. My hands. As always, THANK YOU to all of our customers for your business and support of Oakridge BBQ!!! Michael J. Trump Owner & Master Blender

A post shared by Oakridge BBQ (@oakridgebbq) on May 23, 2019 at 10:11am PDT

View this post on Instagram

We are proud to endorse @OakridgeBBQ products for #BBQCompetitions and when we grill our favorite foods at home. Check out their backyard bbq rub kit at https://goo.gl/TTFPem It includes everything you need for a great weekend of barbecue this summer with friends. ⠀ #BBQLife #smokingmeat #carnivore #smokemeatinasmoker #barbecuetime #barbecuepork #barbecue #pitmaster ⠀ #grilling #foodporn #BGENation #Webergrills #ceramiccooker #outdoorcooking #smoker #gasgrill ⠀ #grillingsteak #searingsteak #steakfordinner #grillingathome

A post shared by Smokin J's Barbeque (@smokinjsbarbeque) on Mar 16, 2019 at 6:01am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Great time at the Jack Daniel's World Invitational Championship! We got some hardware for 2nd place chicken and @catherine.flora scored a perfect/perfect score in dessert on bbq's biggest stage. #bbq #thejack #jackdaniels #oldno7 #kcbs #competitionbbq #ncbbq #ocsbbq #thickcut #sweetsmokeq #swampboysbbq #mojobricks #oakridgebbq #doubleodrumco #royaloakcharcoal

A post shared by Old Colony Smokehouse (@oldcolonysmokehouse) on Oct 30, 2019 at 4:45am PDT

View this post on Instagram

One of two Pork Ribs I smoked in my Offset with Post Oak and Cherry Wood. 🔥 🔥 This slab was seasoned with @oakridgebbq Secret Weapon and SPOGOS. 🔥 🔥 The Pork Ribs were smoked with @jealousdevilcharcoal , Post Oak and a few chunks of Cherry Wood. 🔥 🔥 The ribs were then wrapped with @texaspepperjelly Mango Habanero, @blueshognation BBQ sauce and Apple Juice. 🔥 🔥 I finally sauced the ribs with @texaspepperjelly and @blueshognation . . . . FOLLOW ➡️➡️ @borderbangerbbq 🇺🇸 @oakridgebbq 🇺🇸 @jealousdevilcharcoal 🇺🇸 . . . . #texas #bbq #pork #ribs #oakridgebbq #jealousdevilcharcoal #texaspepperjelly #blueshogbbqsauce #happy #love #delicious #yummy #instafood #instagood #instabbq #instagram #instahappy #instalove #food #foodporn #foodgasm #foodphotography #foodies #borderbangerbbq #instadaily #instafood #freshfood #bbqlife #keepthatsmokerollin #yall

A post shared by Jimmy (@borderbangerbbq) on Nov 18, 2019 at 8:06pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Reverse sear tenderloin with Oakridge Bbq rub Carne Crosta! Amazing flavour with a hint of Brazilian coffee. You want it we got it! #okotoks #alberta #gmg #greenmountaingrills #gmgnation #pelletsmoker #bbq #barbeque #pelletgrill #grilling #grill #invermere #smoked #bbqsmoker #meat #radium #lowandslow #banff #pitmaster #bbqlove #woodpellets #highriver #foodbeast #furtadofarms #oakridgebbq #bbqlife #canmore #backcountrygrills #lumberjackpellets #outdoorgrilling

A post shared by BackCountry Grills (@backcountrygrills) on Oct 27, 2019 at 10:05am PDT

I’ve been a customer of Mike’s without his knowledge now for at least six or seven years. Many of you already love his rubs, brines, seasonings, and injections.

Names like Secret Weapon, Game Changer, Dominator, Black Ops, and Carne Crosta bring a great big smile to your face. They do this because you’ve delighted everyone from yourself, to BBQ judges, to the most important group of all – your friends and family – with the results you get from using these blends.

As I talk with Mike, you’ll hear the origin story of Oakridge BBQ, you’ll become intimately familiar with the painstaking effort he takes to source and use only the finest spices on the planet, and … if you’re like me… you’ll come away with even greater respect for Mike and what he’s doing at Oakridge BBQ.

Now understand, Mike’s hands touch ever rub and seasoning blend that comes out of his shop. If you see a bag of Oakridge BBQ Rub anywhere from California to Maine to England or Australia, it’s come through one central Oakridge BBQ facility in Kearney, Missouri operated and managed by one Mr. Mike Trump.

Because of Mike’s intense focus on his product, he’s had limited opportunity to get out into the world of social media, get out to visit retail shops or some of the nearly 90 cook teams he sponsors here in the US and across the globe.

This interview is one of those “pull back the curtain” experiences that I love to see come together. If you have an interest in how a business like Oakridge BBQ comes together and operates, what it takes in terms of day-in and day-out focus, you’re in for a real treat.