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Blazin BBQ is one of three teams vying to win the Western Canada Ribfest 2026 (Cliff Simpson, CityNews) <\/p>\nThree of the top rib teams from across Canada are competing for the best ribs in the 2026 Western Canada Ribfest tour.<\/p>\n
Billy bones BBQ, Blazin BBQ and Buckeye BBQ are serving up their best recipes as they eye the prize. The teams have been a part of the show for several years, some from day one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dennis Nephin, director of strategic partnership, Western Canada Ribfest tour, said the event has been going on for over a decade and since then there has been a growing interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe popularity grew and we\u2019re getting more relationships with a lot of communities, and they are like \u2018come here come here\u2019,\u201d Nephin said. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re now at 18 shows we start here kicking off in Winnipeg and we finish off at swift current in September.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nephin said teams are judged based on a blind tasting.<\/p>\n
Uyrell Philip is the manager of Billy bones BBQ, one of the teams to compete in the ribfest.<\/p>\n
\u201cRibfest started in the States and then there was a group of people that decided to bring it to Canada,\u201d Philip said.<\/p>\n
Blazin BBQ is one of three teams vying to win the Western Canada Ribfest 2026 (Cliff Simpson, CityNews) <\/p>\n
Travis Depencier, manager of Blazin BBQ, said, he took part in the ribfest 10 years ago and fell in love with the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cEver since then the tour has been growing and growing and growing, and it went from eight shows to 12 shows to now we\u2019re at 17 shows and every year gets better and it keep us coming back,\u201d Depencier said.<\/p>\n
For Buckeye BBQ\u2019s Terry Gaebel, ribfest is a matter of pride about his Midwest heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuckeye BBQ is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and just before COVID, we transitioned and I bought the business and we\u2019ve never looked back since,\u201d Gaebel said.<\/p>\n
Award-winning ribs, live music and family fun activities is what goes down during rib fest. All three vendors work together all over Western Canada to bring out the best BBQ but when competition time comes around on Sunday, there is no friends on this tour.<\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
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