Reimagined Ribfest finds early success
Mark Noble, right, takes an order from a customer during Saturday’s Ribfest, a joint effort between the Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club and the Westfield Razorback Wrestling program. Noble and Brian Hoveland, center, served up pulled pork, BBQ ribs and all the trimmings. Hoveland is the vice president of the Servicemen’s Club Board. Staff photo by Kay Fate
When a much-loved event – a ribfest, let’s say – changes hands – from a youth club to a wrestling program and veterans, let’s say – there’s a little bit of pressure.
You would have never known it by watching the crowd last weekend at the Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club.
“I thought we had a nice crowd for our first year of doing things, and developing a following,” said Doug Johnson, president of the BP Servicemen’s Club Board of Directors.
Less than two hours after the reimagined Ribfest, he estimated about 200 people had been served a pork dinner – pulled pork and barbecued ribs – with all the trimmings.
“Our big change was to serve the food in a line rather than” having diners go find their favorite ribs among the competitors, he said.
Seven teams competed for prizes, arriving early Saturday morning to grill the ribs that would be part of the meal, served from roasters on the line.
“If they had a favorite, or if they wanted to try the winner, then they could pick which ribs they wanted,” Johnson explained; each team had its own roaster.
In a somewhat “Who’s on First?” vein, Nobody took first place.
“Their team name was Nobody,” Johnson said, clarifying the winner.
Placing second was Blue Smoke BBQ; third place went to Two Sexy Pitmasters – also a team name, not necessarily an opinion.
In years past, the attendees judged as well, which produced a People’s Choice winner.
“It’s funny,” Johnson said, “because from (the teams’) side, they don’t like it, because most people can’t eat seven ribs… To get a People’s Choice, they really don’t try them all. Even when I could have eaten seven ribs, that seventh rib … I was choking that thing down.”
The cost of the ribs and the pulled pork was covered by Minnesota Pork, based out of Mankato.
The line at the crowded silent auction tables was steady; there was facepainting and kids’ games across the street in Fireman’s Park.
Johnson said between the Servicemen’s Club and the Westfield Razorback Wrestling Program, about 40 people volunteered.
The evening wrapped up with live music from Highway 30.
A final tally wasn’t available immediately, but organizers said from the start that the goal is to benefit the veterans and the youth and varsity wrestlers, defraying costs of programs and more.