Grilling burgers Friday evening at the Minnesota in May BBQ & Cheese Festival.
ON THE EVENING BEFORE the big BBQ competition, the atmosphere at the Rice County Fairgrounds felt kicked back. Contestants settled into lawn chairs with bottles of beer, others clustered around campers, some tossed bean bags and yet other competitors chatted it up with the locals.
Next to the Two Little Pigs BBQ site, a bean bag toss competition was underway.
The guys from QU Smokin’ Krewe, Waukesha, Wisconsin, took time to tell me about their “pit” and show me the meat cooking inside the massive wood pellet fired grill behind them.
A pig on a vintage Ford pick-up, placed their by the team of two brothers and childhood friends originally from East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
Only a few focused on prepping for the competition at the Minnesota in May BBQ & Cheese Festival which continues today (Saturday) in Faribault.
Judging begins at 11:30 a.m. in seven competitive categories in this Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event that has drawn 63 teams from all over—Appleton, Wisconsin; Rapid City, South Dakota; Storm Lake, Iowa; Delano, Minnesota…
They came with their stacks of wood and their bags and bags and bags of charcoal. They arrived pulling campers and massive grills. And they came with an attitude of fun, a sense of humor and a love of BBQ.
Many of the grills, like that of the Lone Star Smoke Rangers from Rapid City, South Dakota, are massive. But some contestants cook on ordinary backyard grills.
One of the many creative and humorous signs you’ll see at competitors’ sites.
Tami Schluter, co-owner of the historic Hutchinson House B & B in Faribault, brought her English bulldog, Butler, to the BBQ fest Friday evening.
One of the vendors at the BBQ fest.
Food vendor Hog Wild BBQ and Grill from Luck, Wisconsin, displayed its collection of trophies.
Daddy-O’s BBQ Shack, another festival food vendor.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Great picture of Butler . . . thanks Audrey! Good eats and fun band last night. More activities today! Check it out if you haven’t done so already!
Yup, I’ll be back today sampling some of that BBQ from the vendors and taking in the sights, sounds and most especially, the BBQ aroma.
[…] Also, Minnesota in May! BBQ Society contest sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society. Yes, it’s a big deal! https://mnprairieroots.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/touring-the-minnesota-in-may-bbq-cheese-festival/ […]
Sometimes I wish my weekends weren’t so busy…. This would have been something fun, and close to go to. Did you get to sample any of the BBQ fixins?
The BBQ fest was fabulous. Great food. Great people. Perfect day to be outside. You can expect a full report with more photos within the next several days. There’s a BBQ fest coming up in Rochester. Can’t recall the date, but I met the organizer today.
I have never heard of a bean bag tossing competition. I think I need one of those little pigs for the bonnet of my car – I think that’s what it’s missing! You would have to go to this festival with a very empty stomach because I can imagine there is just so much to choose from and you’d want to try a bit of everything xx
Yes, bean bag tossing is a pretty big outdoor recreational activity in Minnesota during the warm months.
I discovered today, when I returned to the fest, that the pig on the truck oinks when you walk past it. I have a sweet photo of a darling little girl w/ that pig which I’ll share.
And the BBQ…, oh, so good.