Camp High Hopes Rib Fest returns Saturday to Battery Park

SIOUX CITY – By profession, Troy Swick owns a tree trimming service. However, his passion is considerably more impertinent.

Along with his friend Shane Cain, Dakota City-based Swick represents Team Good Ol’ Boys BBQ, a perennial favorite at Rib Fest, an annual rib cook-off that elevates Camp High Hopes, an organization that provides barrier-free recreational activities throughout the year. the year. experiences for children, adolescents and adults with disabilities, special needs and chronic illnesses in Siouxland.

Taking place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Battery Park at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the 14th annual Rib Fest is also a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned competition known for attracting discerning smokers and barons of Siouxland’s cheekiest barbecue joints.

Swick, who has fought at Rib Fest at least six times, falls into this category.

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“My specialty is ribs while Shane only focuses on chicken,” Swick explained. “It makes us a good team.”

Eloy Alvarez eats a rib at the Camp High Hopes Rib Fest at Battery Park at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in a 2022 file photo. Currently in its 14th…

Indeed, Team Good Ol’ Boys frequently wins honors in the People’s Choice categories while also winning second place several times.

However, in 2022, Swick and Cain won a championship grand prize that earned them an all-expenses-paid trip to Virginia while learning from six-time World Champion Pitmaster, Tuffy Stone.

Which is pretty heady for Swick, a self-taught cook who gained culinary experience working in a restaurant as a teenager.

“Everything I learned was through trial and error,” he said. “Perfecting your taste is key to competitive barbecue competitions.”

Yet there is one more element in Team Good Ol’ Boys’ arsenal, according to Camp High Hopes Director of Advancement Kyle Knaack.

“Not only do the Good Ol’ Boys make great barbecue, they are also great showmen,” he explained. “They have fun doing what they do and it shows in the public.”

Russ Hauser, of Akron, Iowa, looks at a rack of ribs he finished slicing at Camp High Hopes’ Rib Fest in a 2022 file photo. 20 teams are entered…

That said, Swick and his crew will face tough competition from 19 other teams.

“We have a few more teams than last year and we have a few outside players,” Knaack said. “We love that Rib Fest gets a little bigger every year.”

That’s largely because everyone has a say at Rib Fest.

For the price of a punch card, a person can enjoy delicious barbecue ribs and chicken from the competing teams. Each punch card offers five tempting tastings, the equivalent of a rib, a serving of chicken or two sides.

Every dollar raised will go directly to supporting the programs at Camp High Hopes, a 90-acre scenic site located at 5804 Correctionville Road.

Aaron Ayala wears a pig costume at Rib Fest 2022, a fundraiser for Camp High Hopes in Sioux City. In addition to a barbecue company in Kansas City…

In addition to the much-hyped ‘que, Rib Fest will also feature family games, face painting as well as live music from The Sons of 20, a Sioux City-based band that plays both rock and country.

“We first learned about The Sons of 20 at one of Camp High Hopes’ Miles for Smiles Poker Run fundraisers,” Knaack said. “The band’s drummer’s kid is one of our camp members.”

In addition to cooking ribs and running poker, Camp High Hopes also hosts a Haunted Lodge Party fundraiser every Halloween.

Although Rib Fest remains close to the heart of Knaack.

“There’s something special about an outdoor festival with lots of food and fun in the summer,” he said. “The fact that we are able to raise money for our life-changing programs that help hundreds of people and their families is even better.”

People gather in the shade to eat barbecue ribs during the 2023 Rib Fest at Battery Park at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Professional judges like…

Swick stands behind the quality care offered by Camp High Hopes.

“People ask me all the time if I would ever consider doing catered events,” he said, shaking his head. “I prefer to work on behalf of large organizations that help the community.”

To be fair, altruism can only be right. Swick still wants to secure a victory for the Good ‘Ol Boys team.

“If I had to give any advice to other teams competing, it’s to take it easy and slow,” he said. “You can’t rush good barbecue.”


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