Father-son team Chris and Austin Schimke work together to apply homemade barbecue sauce.
Craig Heumiller flips several racks of ribs during competition.
Jason Weber and Jarrod Bultsma range ribs in the smoker.
Richard McClure of Plankinton competed for the first time in Rockin’ Ribfest this year.
Brady Duxbury and Adam Haake sample the result of their hard work.
Barbie and Mike Brunsen prepare their secret rib recipe.
John Haase with his wife Laura (not pictured) made the trip from Scotland, SD to compete in Rockin’ Ribfest.
Gene Gaikowski processes his racks of ribs with sons Nathan and Carter looking on.
Scott Miller and Brian Kolousek work fast and furious to process ribs by the judges deadline.
Brady Younie, Eric Schroeder and Chris Cashman enjoy a laugh while working on their ribs.
Blake Willman applies more sauce during the smoking process.
Vanessa and Tony Stevens prepare ribs to submit to judges.
Laura and Thad Jacobson work on their first-place winning ribs.
As Rockin’ Ribfest attendees savored the different flavors contestants brought to the contest, the time and effort put forth by contestants well before the event may not be top of mind. However, when you think of what truly makes the event, without the contestants, Ribfest wouldn’t be quite the same.Deemed the heart and soul of the event, contestants start their smokers at 7:30 a.m. ...
