For the past several years, Elk Creek BBQ Company products have been popping up in stores all over Beckham County. The comely displays offer a vast array of spices and sauces to invigorate even the most lively cookouts.
Proprietor Cam Day has burned countless hours developing his line to be easy to use for novice cooks and exciting for competitive BBQ champs.
As he now has competitive teams in Australia using Elk Creek exclusively, it is clear that Day has succeeded in that goal. Moreover, it can be found in seven direct countries.
“It was all set into motion when I started competing myself,” Day recounted. “I have let it be an organic company since the beginning. In other words, I have just kind of let it grow where it was supposed to. My first product was the Beef Shake in 2014, and it has done well.”
After the success of his first seasoning mix on the competitive circuit, Day was compelled to answer for other categories. Like the original Beef Shake, he would devote himself to online research and trial-and-error experiments until each new product tasted perfect.
“Next, I needed a good chicken rub and came up with the Cajun Stinger. My third is one of my most popular — the AP. It is an all-purpose,” Day said.
Day now boasts a whopping 26 products. While customers can buy directly from him or on the internet, Elk Creek can be found everywhere, from Mom and Pop shops like La-Donna’s Wine and Liquor to corporate stores like Homeland and Ace Hardware.
“I still ship out every single Amazon sale myself,” Day said. “It makes for some late nights, but we are so grateful for every customer.”
Though Day will always be partial to dry rubs and seasonings, he focuses on adding more sauces and wet marinades. He aspires to keep his customers excited.
“I have a One Love Island Spice, a kind of dry rub that will be new. It is awesome on wings. I also have the Southern Coast Crunch. Think Emeril. It is perfect for something like salmon or redfish. But I’m also excited about the sauces that are coming. Right now, I’m putting in time perfecting a chimichurri dressing with olive oil. I’m also finalizing labels for a coating system that works with onions and fish fry. I honestly have a 100 different ideas being developed at once, but these are some of the things folks can be looking for,” Day said.
Day has lived in Elk City since 2001. He and his wife Jan share one son. He still spends many days and nights on the road mentoring new cook-off teams and introducing his products into parts unknown.
