Twelve teams competed to be judged as Wadena's best BBQ grillers at the Lions Club's 12th Annual Pig 'N Wing Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Wadena County Fairgrounds.
Melissa and Lindsey Raddatz of the Smoke Addiction BBQ team checked over their ribs during the final phase of the Pig 'N Wing Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. The team from south of Brainerd took second place in the ribs category. It was their ninth year of competing at the annual event.
WADENA — The Wadena County Fairgrounds was the place to be on Saturday, Aug. 20, with the delicious smells of barbecued chicken wings and pork ribs wafting into the atmosphere throughout the afternoon.
A total of 12 teams competed in the 12th Annual Pig ‘N Wing Challenge, hosted by the Wadena Lions Club. About 35 Lions members were kept busy throughout the afternoon, cooking up fresh corn on the cob, French fries, wings and ribs to keep the public fed while the teams worked on their masterpieces.
Matt Guthmiller of the Blue Line BBQ team applied some butter and spices to his team's rack of ribs before placing them on the grill for the 12th Annual Pig 'N Wing Challenge at the Wadena County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.
Vicki Gerdes / Wadena Pioneer Journal
When they were finished, they carefully scooped their samples into styrofoam containers and brought them to the judges for consideration.
“They judge on appearance, taste, texture and tenderness,” said Ryan Anderson, who chaired this year’s challenge for the Lions.
Ricky Carroll of the 56 BBQ team applies a little more sauce to the ribs in the smoker at the Pig 'N Wing Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 at the Wadena County Fairgrounds.
Vicki Gerdes / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Some teams came from as far away as Rose Creek, Minn. (263 miles), Anderson said, but most were a bit more local.
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Some brought their own custom-made smokers, while others relied on their secret-recipe sauces and rubs to sway the judges — and the public: A People’s Choice Award was also on the line.
Tony Kassa of the Smokoholics team checks on the fire in his custom-built smoker as the team prepares for the Wadena Lions' Pig 'N Wing Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.
Vicki Gerdes / Detroit Lakes Tribune
“Some teams are out to win the judges’ award, but others want the people’s choice,” Anderson said.
Mitch Hanson of the Belly Buckers BBQ team shows off the chicken wings he just put on the grill for the Wadena Lions' Pig 'N Wing Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.
Vicki Gerdes / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Proceeds from the event go to support Lions projects in the community, he said.
At the end of the day, it was Bully BBQ that took first place in the judging for both ribs and wings, while Uff-Da BBQ took the people’s choice award in both categories.
A nice crowd showed up to sample the results of the Wadena Lions' Pig 'N Wing Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.
Vicki Gerdes / Wadena Pioneer Journal
A car show was also held in conjunction with the event, with Brandi Anderson’s 1968 Pontiac Firebird taking home first place honors.
The complete results were as follows:
The Bully BBQ team took first place in the judging for both ribs and wings at the 12th Annual Pig 'N Wing Challenge, hosted by the Wadena Lions on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.
Contributed / Wadena Lions Club
Wings:
1st: Bully BBQ
2nd: In-Tents Grillers
3rd: Motley Crew BBQ
People's Choice: Uff-Da BBQ
The Uff-Da BBQ team took the People's Choice Award for both wings and ribs at the 12th Annual Pig 'N Wing Challenge, hosted by the Wadena Lions Club on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.
A reporter at Detroit Lakes Newspapers since relocating to the community in October 2000, Vicki was promoted to Community News Lead for the Detroit Lakes Tribune and Perham Focus on Jan. 1, 2022. She has covered pretty much every "beat" that a reporter can be assigned, from county board and city council to entertainment, crime and even sports. Born and raised in Madelia, Minnesota, she is a graduate of Hamline University, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in English literature (writing concentration). You can reach her at vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com.
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