Pipestone Flyer
Are you a huge BBQ fan? Do visions of BBQ sauce and mesquite wood dance around your head? Does your fondest fantasy involve hundreds of pounds of tender, juicy, mouthwatering, slow roasted ribs? If so, then have I got a treat for you! On August 19th at the Leduc #1 Discovery Centre, from noon until 4pm, your dreams will come to life at their 65th Anniversary Celebration's "Almost Famous" Rib-Cook-Off!
This will be the eighth annual year for the cook-off, with currently ten teams registered and ready to prove their piggy prowess. And for the first time ever, we are very proud to announce that the Pipestone Flyer is entering a team into this highly competitive, physically demanding, and exacting competition. It should also be noted that only people who love BBQ, are very hungry, have a good sense of humour, want to have a lot of fun, and have their tongue firmly planted in their cheek, should attend this prestigious event!
Some of the competing groups that have already leaped onto the hay wagon for the ride into flavour town alongside of the Pipestone Flyer, are the Devon Lions Club, the Devon IGA and Schlumberger, to name just a few. With the average number of teams entered in years past being between 5 and 9, we are thrilled to announce that this year ten teams have entered the fray! And with each team grilling up a whopping 100 pounds of porky perfection, that means a half ton of ribs will be available for sampling!
It should also be mentioned that in order to take part in the competition, each group must not only have a killer rib recipe, but also have a theme for their group that includes, but is not limited to, costumes. There is a People's Choice Award to be won, the Pipestone Flyer is sponsoring the trophy for the best themed group, and of course, the much fought over, coveted and ultimate confirmation of BBQ excellence, the "Champion Griller Of The World" Award.
Unfortunately, last year's winner Cenovus's "Grillage People" team, are not able to attend and defend their championship status (we think they found out the Pipestone Flyer Sow Belly Soppers were entering and just decided to throw in the towel right then and there!) so this year the competition is wide open and it could be anyone's to take.
We understand that with the battle of the pork being so heated, there may have been a potential stretching of the child labour laws in years past at this competition, with the "Grandma Made Me Do It" team, who has won the People's Choice Award four years running, utilizing an unfairly cute young lad to walk around with a sandwich board strapped to him that says "Vote For My Grandma..." on the front, and when he turns around the back states, "...Or She'll Be Mad At Me!". Clearly a violation in our books.
Everyone is hoping for good weather for the event, but BBQ fanatics are a tough bunch, so with the last two competitions taking place in the pouring rain, there were still over 500 people that packed the benches to wrap their lips around some world class ribs. And they were the lucky ones, as the ribs are served on a first come, first served basis, and this event has been known to go through 500 lbs of ribs in an hour and sell out.
So if you are looking to mosey on down on August 19th and strap the feedbag on in a big way, individual tickets are purchased on site for a plate of gooey goodness from the rib master of your choice, as well as some tempting side dish offerings from individual vendors. But we all know why everyone is really there. It's all about the pork, baby!