(Posted June 20, 2023)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The Madison County Fair is hosting its first annual Rib Cook-Off on July 8, prior to the rodeo.
The contest is an outgrowth of a friendly competition that’s been going on for years among people who camp at the fairgrounds during fair week. Campers Brad Reeves, Mike Leach, and Randy White headed it up.
“It got to be a big thing, so (the fair board) decided to take the idea and make it into a fair-wide, county-wide thing,” said Paul Gross, senior fair board president.
Reeves, Leach, and White are involved with the expanded set-up.
Anyone is welcome to enter. Registration is $10 and due at the fair office by 6 p.m. July 7. Each entrant must cook two racks of ribs. Entries must be set up at the beer garden by 5 p.m. July 8. Judging starts at 6.
A team from BST will serve as the official judges. All of the entry fee money will go to one grand prize winner.
Additionally, the public will determine a People’s Choice winner. The cost to taste test for People’s Choice is $15 per person. The number of taste testers will be limited, based on the number of entrants. The money collected from the taste testers goes to the People’s Choice winner.
For more information, call the fair office at (740) 852-1654. The fair office is located on the fairgrounds at 205 Elm St., London.
The 2023 Madison County Fair runs July 8-15. For a full schedule of events, visit Madison County Fair.
