The Elkhorn Ribfest is the second biggest barbecue festival in the United States, according to Larry Gaffey, CEO and general manager of the Walworth County Fairgrounds, which hosts the event.
Professional ribmaster Paul Mackay, of Aussom Aussie Australian Barbecue Company, won first place in the best sauce category at the 2024 Eikhorn Ribfest.
An aerial view of the Elkhorn Ribfest, which in 2025 takes place at the Walworth County Fairgrounds July 9-13. This year鈥檚 event will be the ninth annual Elkhorn Ribfest.
MeatFest 2023 in Green Bay was held at the Resch Center. Board members from the Meat Smoking Club of Wisconsin were dressed in orange shirts, and this competition was chicken wings.聽
Ken Kemler is the barbecue master at Keystone Grill in Cambridge.
Courtesy Keystone Grill
MeatFest 2023 in Green Bay was held at the Resch Center. Board members from the Meat Smoking Club of Wisconsin were dressed in orange shirts, and this competition was chicken wings.聽
Photo courtesy of Meat Smoking Club of Wisconsin
Judges try some chicken wings during competition at MeatFest 2023 in Green Bay at the Resch Center.聽
Photo courtesy of Meat Smoking Club of Wisconsin
Some beef plate ribs cooked by Eric Wallace, of the Meat Smoking Club of Wisconsin, on his pellet smoker this past summer.聽聽
ELKHORN -- Sorry, Wisconsin moms, but today鈥檚 barbecue enthusiasts are seeking out recipes more refined than your crockpot ribs. Larry Gaffey, general manager at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, home of Elkhorn Ribfest, the second largest barbecue competition in the nation, knows what he likes.
A barbecue professional mans the grill at Elkhorn Ribfest.
Courtesy Melody Judge/Elkhorn Ribfest
鈥淧eople who grew up here in the Midwest probably grew up with mom鈥檚 crockpot ribs,鈥 said Gaffey. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e falling off the bone, tender, mushy. That鈥檚 not really what people who are into excellent BBQ are looking for. In fact, that鈥檚 the opposite.鈥
The Elkhorn Ribfest is the second biggest barbecue festival in the United States, according to Larry Gaffey, CEO and general manager of the Walworth County Fairgrounds, which hosts the event.
A stack of ribs is ready to eat from Cowboys BBQ & Rib Company of Fort Worth, Texas, at Elkhorn Ribfest in 2022.
Adams Publishing Group file photo
Boo Harris of Buck 鈥楨m BBQ in Houston, Texas, cooks ribs while listening to Morgan Wallen at Ribfest in Elkhorn in 2022.
Adams Publishing Group file photo
Professional ribmaster Paul Mackay, of Aussom Aussie Australian Barbecue Company, won first place in the best sauce category at the 2024 Eikhorn Ribfest.
Courtesy Melody Judge/Elkhorn Ribfest
An aerial view of the Elkhorn Ribfest, which in 2025 takes place at the Walworth County Fairgrounds July 9-13. This year鈥檚 event will be the ninth annual Elkhorn Ribfest.
Peter Lindblad wrote this for the Spring/Summer 2025 edition of Discover magazine, published by APG Media of Southern Wisconsin. Free copies of Discover can be found in locations throughout southern Wisconsin, including at local libraries, visitor centers and Chamber of Commerce and tourism offices.
