No bones about it: BP’s Ribfest will end

The issue was “the ask.”

The board of the Blooming Prairie Youth Club had a question to answer: Should the group continue its 14-year tradition of a July Ribfest, or look at other fundraising options?

Ribfest “has been a challenge the last couple of years, with coordinating the event, not having enough volunteers; it’s at a bad time of year,” said Amanda Johnson, president of the board.

She’s talking about the biggest variable: the weather.

“Nobody wants to stand out in the heat all day,” she said, or conversely, try to cook in rainy or windy weather.

All of it, Johnson said, “is a big ask. It’s a big ask for us to go out and ask for cases and cases of ribs. It’s a big ask for us to ask these cook teams to spend a 16-hour day cooking ribs.”

She also recognizes the financial ask of families.

“A family of five, we’re well aware – that’s not a cheap entry.”

The board has also seen a subtle decline in attendance in the past few years.

All those factors require balance for success, Johnson said, “and we just decided we have other, more pressing items that we need to work on,” including building their own board numbers.

So there will be no Ribfest 2026, the board decided at its December meeting.

The last weekend in July isn’t off the Youth Club calendar, however. It will host a silent and live auction that weekend, since that’s typically what drew the most money during Ribfest.

“It’s been really tough to determine what route to go,” Johnson said. “We talked about many different scenarios, and I think the point for us is, we’re willing to take the risk of just holding a silent and live auction.

“I think that will draw more people that maybe don’t like ribs, or maybe don’t want to be out in the heat, or just want to come look,” she said. “If they don’t find an auction item they want to bid on, then cool, you know? They’re still there, supporting us, spreading our message.”

The organization is hopeful “someone else can figure out a Ribfest and make it successful.”

The original event “started out as a backyard thing,” Johnson said. “It was just a bunch of guys that got together, threw meat on the grill” and had a friendly competition.

“Well, now we’ve got the health department involved; we’ve got insurance; we’ve got another location involved; we have to rent Port-a-Potties, a tent …”

Barbecue competitions in and of themselves are becoming very competitive. Even the average backyard event – which the Ribfest is considered – hands over several hundred dollars to the winners.

Large festivals draw chefs looking for thousands of dollars in prizes.

“These guys and girls and teams have a lot of money invested in their smokers,” Johnson said, “and our Ribfest cook teams are always volunteers.”

Their awards are … bragging rights, ”and we’re so thankful and grateful for all the people that have been involved throughout the years.”

In lieu of Ribfest, the Youth Club will also host two family-friendly community Bingo events in 2026, planned for March 14 and Dec. 12.

The auctions and Bingo will be held at the Cue Company and Pizza Cellar.

The decision to end Ribfest – the club’s largest fundraiser – comes on the heels of a successful year financially.

“We had another pretty aggressive year of fundraising,” Johnson said. “Our goal was $100,000, and we broke that, so we’re pretty excited and proud about that.”

They will end 2025 with about $103,000 in the budget.

About 47% of that total came from grants; 30% was from fundraising. Corporate donations hit 17%; individual donations brought in 6%.

The organization has “really ramped up” its grant writing, the duties split between director Alicia Ptacek and Johnson.

A good chunk of the funds are tagged for a door project that will involve replacing the front door and building an enclosed, secure, double-door entryway.

The interior doors, too, will be addressed.

“We’re looking to upgrade those to fire grade, with glass, so they’re more like commercial classroom doors,” Johnson said.

The cost is hovering around $30,000; the board is considering doing it in two phases.

“We have the means to do the interior doors, but the exterior is kind of going to be a can of worms, because we’ll have to redo some concrete and footings,” she said.

Some diseased trees also need to be removed; more trees will be planted.

In addition to the projects, the budget is used toward operational expenses, such as utilities, food and other upkeep – but not payroll.

“What we charge for childcare covers almost all of our payroll,” Johnson said, “but it’s getting harder and harder.”

Rates for 2026 will be evaluated; it’s been a couple of years since any kind of significant increase.

“It’s just a sign of the times, unfortunately,” she said. “When we look at the market in the same demographics … we are at the very bottom.

“I think transparency is important if people are donating their money or their time,” Johnson said. “I think, to a certain extent, they have a right to know where it’s going – or we want to show them we’re putting that money to work. That’s important.”

Adding board members is vital, though.

“I can say, if you were ever considering volunteering, this would be the most perfect time, because we’ve worked really hard the last couple of years,” Johnson said.

“We’ve put some policies and procedures in place that are just going to help that facility for hopefully years to come – because there obviously is a childcare crisis.”