Lee Ann Whippen began competing in State BBQ Championships in 1996 and after winning the Georgia State Championship in 1996 went on to with 1st place in pork in the prestigious American Royal National Championship.  While continuing professionally in Hotel Catering for 15yrs, she competed in BBQ and won numerous awards.

In 2002, she decided her love of BBQ and experience in catering would be the perfect combination to begin “Wood Chicks BBQ” Catering and Competition team in 2002.
The catering became a success and branched into BBQ vending at local fairs and festivals including Neptune Festival, Suffolk Peanut Festival, Strawberry Pungo Festival, Driver Days and Chesapeake Jubilee. 

State Competitions continued with most recently winning 2010 Maryland Reserve Grand Championship and 2009 Virginia State BBQ Grand Champion!

Due to the growth and demand, Wood Chicks BBQ wanted to bring Authentic Smoked BBQ locally and have it available 7days a week for their customers.  To satisfy the BBQ craving of all local patrons we opened Wood Chicks BBQ restaurant  at 1025 N. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake, VA.

Awards have resulted in appearances on the Today Show, Travel Channel, 700 Club, Food Network, People Magazine,ESPN Magazine and locally WAVY TV, Joel Rubin Show, The Virginia Pilot, VERSUS Network on the National BBQ Championship Series, and most recently on FOOD NETWORK THROWDOWN WITH BOBBY FLAY WITH WOOD CHICKS WINNING BEST PORK BBQ and Featured on TLC docu-series BBQ PITMASTERS both 1st and 2nd series!