Building on the success of the 2014 Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival, Ridgefield Rotary President Rich Vazzana and the event’s Co-Chair Cliff Heidinger announced plans for 2015 to expand the event’s central feature, the Kansas City Barbecue Society (“KCBS”) sanctioned Barbecue Contest, to admit up to 30 teams to the competition. The 2014 event had 17 competing teams. The 2015 BBQ Festival will continue as a joint venture of the Ridgefield Rotary and Ridgefield Community Center. Rich currently serves as President of both. Under KCBS rules, admitting at least 25 contestants will enhance the event’s attraction and interest by making the contest a state championship event. Points earned by the winners will count towards eligibility for the Jack Daniels Invitational. The Jack Daniels event is the “World Cup,” “World Series” and “Super Bowl” of the competitive but taste-full universe of serious barbecue competition.
The Ridgefield BBQ Festival is operated entirely by unpaid volunteers. The Festival wraps loads of family-friendly fun around the contest including rides, games, live country music bands and food, lots and lots of food. Funds raised by the event benefit the Community Center and Rotary’s support of community organizations, its scholarship program and humanitarian projects.
About the author : michael austin
