(Editor’s Note: The following article is a re-run from earlier this year.) 

WOW...What a day!

Two Saturdays ago, the Big Lake Beyond the Yellow Ribbon held their 8th Annual Ribs for the Ribbon BBQ competition at Lakeside Park.  

Mother nature did her part in providing a gorgeous bright, sunny, and un-seasonably warm day.  Twenty-two teams that came to compete some from as far away as Wisconsin and as close as right here in Big Lake. The teams traveled to help raise money for local Veterans, Service Members, and their Families.

In the end, the top four teams in Ribs, Chicken, and People’s Choice categories went home with a portion of more than $4,000 cash in their pockets.  The top three teams in each category also took home hardware in the form of respective first, second, and third place wood plaques provided by Lyle’s Woodworking.  

The day started early as teams rolled into the beach around 5:30 a.m, offloading, setting up, and firing up their smokers by the light of the stars.  Ribs were distributed to teams at 8:00 and their work began.  Prepping chicken and prepping ribs for the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) certified judges, as well as prepping their own unique and tasty samples, which were free to the public and are affectionately known as “bribe meat”.

Ticket sales to the public started at 1 p.m. and by 3 p.m., more than 360 six bone rib kits and over 2,100 ribs were sold out.

In the end the following teams took home prizes: for Chicken - first  place went to Furlongs Smoke and Seafood; second place went to Notorious P.I.G.; third place went to Fender Bender BBQ and fourth place was presented to Sensuous BBQ.  

For Ribs - first place went to Dawgs BBQ; second place went to Big Bear BBQ; third place went to Natural Born Grillers BBQ and fourth place went to J N Willy’s BBQ.  

For People’s Choice - first place went to Beer Wolf’s BBQ; second place  went to Natural Born Grillers BBQ; third place went to Smoke’em Like You Stole’em and fourth place went to Big Bear BBQ, Grand Champion Furlong’s Smoke and Seafood and Reserve Grand Champion Notorious P.I.G.