cooking

A Hungry Crowd Descends on a Finger-lickin’ Smokin’ Good Best of the West Ribfest — Photoblog

End of work on a Friday afternoon. Hungry? Thirsty? Watford City answered the call this weekend with ribs, drinks and Wynonna at the annual Best of the West Ribfest.

Best of the West Ribfest

Local businesses and organizations cooked up the food, such as Jones Contractors.

Ribs. Ribs. Ribs.

Plus all the fixin’s

Barbeque food is only one of the attractions drawing in thousands to Main Street Watford City every year.

The event extends its annual popularity, and now includes several blocks to feed and water the thousands of people.

Dune buggy at the Watford City Ribfest

Ford Deluxe

It’s a family event — and kids dig right in.

Winners

Judges picked Targa’s entry as the winner of the barbeque pack.

Judges picked Panther Pressure as second and Nuverra Power Fuels third and also the Showmanship award.

One-half of the Judd’s, Wynonna entertained a huge crowd at the Best of the West Ribfest, as this photo from the Best of the West Facebook page demonstrates. Check out more from the Best of the West Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheWestRibfest/

When the day cooled down, Wynonna took the stage as the headline act. Organizers estimated more than 9,000 people milled around Main Street for the afternoon. Perhaps as many as 10,000. An indication that next year will undoubtedly be another successful addition to the quality of life in Watford City.

While you check out the Best of the West Ribfest Facebook page, head on over to the Beautiful Badlands Facebook page — give it a like, and follow it to stay up to speed with all things Badland.

Mike Kopp

Love to tell stories -- romantic, nostalgic stories of our explorations in the Northern Plains. 15 years a television reporter/anchor, 12 years radio news director, 3 years newspaper editor, 6 years documentary producer -- a lifetime of communication.