Smoke Signals: It’s time to get grillin’ in downtown Absarokee
With summer now officially underway, it’s time for the sweet smell of barbecue at the wildly popular 14th annual Absarokee BBQ Cook-Off this Sunday.
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s has declared it the official state championship with a crowd of between 4,000 and 5,000 expected to fill the streets as 30 to 35 teams battle it out.
An officially sanctioned event of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, there is $12,000 prize money at stake and the chance to go brisket-to-brisket in three of the biggest competitions that exist. The overall winner of Sunday’s event earns a spot in the World Food Championship, the Kansas City American Royal and the Jack Daniels Invitational draws. The winner of the Dessert competition qualifies for the World Championship, said event manager Nick Morrison.
The public is welcome at 11 a.m. and the event concludes at 6:30 p.m.
Last year’s top local team was Montana Outlaw BBQ, which took 11th overall, fifth in chicken, 15th in pork ribs, 12th in pork and 11th in brisket. Led by brothers Justin and Ty Hamilton, Montana Outlaw BBQ has two grand champion titles and a reserve champion title (among others) under its belt dating back as far as 2009.
Other Stillwater teams include
Nye’s Upper Stillwater Smokers, Absarokee’s Long Board BBQ, the Absarokee Trading Post and Absarokee Fire and Rescue. Billings is also well represented this year with other competitors coming from Wyoming, Utah, California, South Dakota, Nebraska and Canada.
New this year is the Food Truck Roundup, which aims to draw a wider range of cuisine by having as many food trucks as possible “to create the largest gathering of Foodie Trucks in Montana,” said Morrison. “It is not just BBQ anymore.”
Two of the 15 food trucks on hand are from Columbus.
Also new this year will be a free drawing for a $1,200 Kamado smoker.
You must attend the event and sign up for the drawing to win, but there is no charge, said Morrison. Free shuttle parking will also be offered.
Live entertainment will be provided by 2GeeZerZ and HannaH, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, Marshall Catch and Milton & the Big Fiasco.
“It is a who’s who of up and coming Montana bands. These entertainers offer a wider range of genre to appeal to a wider audience,” said Morrison in a press release.
HISTORY
The Montana BBQ Cook-off started in 2003 and serves as the main fundraiser for the Absarokee Area Merchants Association (AAMA). The main goal of the event is to promote the area, not to turn a profit, according to the event website.
The event is presented locally by the Stillwater Mining Company, Brigg’s Distributing, the Montana Beef Council and First Interstate Bank.
FISHTAIL FAMILY FUN DAY
The authentic cowboy scene will continue at the annual Fishtail Family Fun Days on Saturday, June 25, with local ranchers mixing with the Beartooth Back Country Horsemen, a full mule team drawing a sheep wagon and visitors from around the region.
The Fishtail Community Council has held the event in Fishtail for about 20 years, a primary fundraiser for the $5,000 to $6,000 needed to maintain the Fishtail Family Park and Fishtail Community Center, which are not owned by the county. A portion of the raised funds may also be made available for local scholarships.
The day will begin with a pancake breakfast at the community center at 7 a.m. followed by a bake sale across from the Fishtail General Store at 8 a.m. Vendors will line the street and open for business at 9 a.m., with antiques, garage sale items, furniture, metal work and other handicrafts.
The parade, characterized as two miles long in a one-block town, will commence at 11 a.m., with trophies for best children’s floats and a guest appearance by the Al Bedoo Oriental Band from Billings.
The Beartooth Christian Ranch will provide a free children’s area, featuring a bouncy-house, face-painting and other activities.
A barbecue lunch will be served at the Cowboy Bar starting at noon, followed by bluegrass and country music by the Hillbillings Band in the park.
There’ll be no duck race or auction this year, but raffle tickets will be available for two prizes of a quarter of beef, paintings by local artists Thelma Senrud and Steve Kerr, a metal sculpture by John Simmons, a load of top soil donated by Kelly Excavating, a load of gravel donated by Vorhes Excavating, a quilt on display at Cloud Nine Quilts, and a $100 gift certificate from the Fishtail General Store. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.
The music will continue in the afternoon at the Cowboy Bar, with local singer and accordion player Noreen “The Outlaw Queen” Linderman and cowboy poet, singer and wrangler Val Geissler visiting from Cody, Wyo.