Backyard BBQ Blast

Amateur grillers have fun making
their favorite dishes among friends

‘Hog Rock’ team gets into the
swing of things at BBQ Blast

By Konnie McCollum
Contributing Writer

(Aug. 11, 2006) – While the professional cookers are gearing up for the Indiana State Barbeque Cook-Off on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Madison Ribberfest, a more relaxed competition will be heating up on Friday, Aug. 18. Anyone who loves to fire up the barbecue grill is welcome to compete in the Backyard BBQ Blast, a friendly neighborhood cook-off for amateur chefs.

Steve Thomas of the Thomas Family Winery and chairman of the event, said, “It’s a much more relaxed type of friendly, backyard party than the professional competition. Folks just love to come down, sit and just enjoy themselves.” Indeed they do, and one team, Hog Rock, plans on having some fun.
Hog Rock, comprised of Don and Loreda Prichard, of Fletcher, Ohio, and Mary Ann Bennett of Hanover, Ind., will be back for a third time to compete in the Backyard BBQ Blast. The Hog Rock team will have its usual pig necklaces, which they special order from New Orleans, to hand out to visitors and will be cooking and listening to rock music. This year, they will have a new addition to the pig paraphernalia that decorates their booth – a small grill shaped like a pig.
Don said one day he got a phone call from Bennett, a friend from his school days, who told him to come to Madison to check out a new barbecue and blues music festival. That was in 2002, and he and his wife decided a visit to the new festival with their longtime friends sounded fun. They were totally impressed and decided to come back and compete in the next year’s festival. Don came up with the idea of Hog Rock when he was making up his grill to bring to the competition.
Last year, Hog Rock finished with a second place in Ribs and a third place in Beef Brisket.
“We particularly love the ribs,” Don said.
He said the team took a rub recipe they had been using and changed it by adding a variety of different spices. They think they have a great recipe now and are hoping to win this year with it. He said they recently got some practice in for the big competition when a friend asked them to cook for a charity fund raiser. Everyone loved the cooking.
The only competition Hog Rock competes in is the Madison Ribberfest. “All the other competitions are professional and too serious for us.”
For now, the team is satisfied with its annual visit to Madison, but future plans to compete in other competitions have not been completely ruled out.
This year, Hog Rock is bringing its own fan club. Several of the team’s friends have heard how fun Ribberfest is and are planning on traveling with the Prichards to check things out. Don said they are planning on just having a great time.
Teams at the Madison Ribberfest's Backyard BBQ Blast pay a $20 entry fee and compete in five categories: beef, pork, ribs, chicken and game/other. Winners are awarded the “Spatula of Honor.” Special prizes will also be given to Best Original Sauce, Best Original Sauce Rub and the Best Team awards.
Thomas said the event has grown over the years because people are finding out how fun it is. During the first year the Backyard BBQ Blast was held, there were about 15 teams. He also said about 32 teams will compete this year, and about half of those will be from the local area.
Competition for the Backyard BBQ Blast begins at 7 a.m. Friday. Awards will be presented on the Blues Bash stage at 9:30 p.m.

• Anyone wishing information about the Backyard BBQ Blast or Madison Ribberfest can visit: www.MadisonRibberfest.com. Entries are still available.

 

 

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