Fest Fills Bellies, Expectations

By JIM LUKSIC

The Progress

Make no bones about it: There wasn’t much meat remaining after the 6th annual Rib Fest finished cooking on Sunday afternoon at the Casablanca Resort in Mesquite. The three day event extended from Friday, Sept. 8 to Sunday Sept. 10 and there was plenty of barbecue for all.

Having taken place outdoors the previous five years, the spectacle this time hunkered down inside of the CasaBlanca newly-revamped grand ballroom. While the barbecue vendors showed their culinary prowess outside, guests remained ensconced in the air-conditioned venue, sheltered from triple-digit temperatures outside.

“Moving the festival indoors takes the weather component out of the equation,” explained Christian Adderson, assistant General Manager of Mesquite Gaming.
This rolled the bones in more ways than one while hosting the event.

Aside from heaps of food – from the spotlighted BBQ beef to funnel cakes and kettle corn – guests were treated to games, a DJ spinning tunes, and a contest involving Virgin Valley’s proverbial “finest.”

The local police and fire departments squared off in a watermelon-eating competition for a good cause. Mesquite Fire Department emerged as the victors.
“We donate $1,000 to a charity of Mesquite Fire’s choice,” Adderson said in reference to Mesquite Gaming, which also operates Virgin River Hotel. “We like to help the community any way we can.”

The People’s Choice Award winner for favorite ribs – which earned a $2,000 prize and bragging rights on the weekend – was Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ.

Hungry folks converged in Mesquite from near and far throughout the weekend festivities. Frances and William Kilpatrick – who hail from Baltimore and Kansas City, respectively – said they both love barbecue.
“We were looking for something tasty to do,” said William.

Frances was enjoying the gastronomy particularly because, she explained, “I don’t have to cook.”
Somebody who had to cook, meanwhile, was Chicago BBQ Company’s Ryan Hayes, whose mother and grandmother initially taught him the tools of the trade.
“I love my job,” said Hayes, under a canopy protecting him from the cloudless sky. “It’s great to see all the people smiling and having fun.”

Hayes entered the fold two years ago under the guidance of Nikki Haggerty, owner of Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ. The business is among the trio of award-winning specialists on hand along with Chicago’s aforementioned crew – owned by her father, aficionado Tom Ferguson – and Texas Outlaw BBQ.

Haggerty said her coworkers endured a hectic week before Mesquite’s Rib Fest, which she compared to a welcome “break.”
“It’s easy for us. Everybody around here is super-nice,” asserted Haggerty, whose culinary skills and passion have taken her around the country, from Amarillo in the Lone Star panhandle to the likes of Ames, Iowa.

Despite her travels, Haggerty felt right at home during the three-day affair. “I love to talk and meet people,” she said as Friday’s festivities kicked off. “I’m not an office person.”

Although she referred to the dynamics of cooks toiling outside while everybody else stayed inside as “experimental,” Haggerty added it would be easier for all involved. When asked to explain Rib Fest’s popularity, she didn’t hesitate: “Definitely the food!”

The occasion was old hat for Steve Vaughn, general manager of Texas Outlaw BBQ, who has been in the business for 30 years. He has been involved with all of the Rib Fest events. “Whatever needs to be done, I’m there,” said Vaughn, noting he couldn’t ask for a better support staff. “We love coming to Mesquite – it’s such a beautiful area and the people are awesome.”