Despite rainy weather at the start of the day, more than two dozen cooking teams flanked the parking lot of the General John W. Vessey Readiness Jr. Readiness Center in Arden Hills. Each team was eyeing the prize and pride of being the top rib smoker brave enough to compete. More than 600 people feasted on 437 racks of ribs cooked at the event that, at its core, raises money for the Minnesota Building Trades Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee. The committee supports active-duty Minnesota National Guard members, their families and veterans.

The thunder and lightning that filled the morning skies relented in time for the career fair to start at 11 a.m. With music by the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division Band, the military-themed opening ceremony featured a WWII-era flyover and remarks from Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Arden Hills Mayor David Grant and Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council President Dan McConnell.

The competition amongst the teams intensified this year in an effort to at least come away with the coveted People’s Choice Award. To that end many teams’ dedication to cooking expanded well beyond chicken and ribs. Several offered sides which included such items as coleslaw and mac and cheese with bacon. One team even offered “bacon-wrapped everything” at their station.

The purpose of the RibFest event is twofold:

First, within the 134^th Brigade Support Battalion headquartered in Arden Hills is an engineering group that allows soldiers to choose a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Many of those jobs mirror career tracks within several affiliated trades of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades (pipefitters, masons, heavy equipment operators, etc.). The union trades want to offer the opportunity to those soldiers to join the building trades, turning their military service into a profitable career.

The second part of the event is fundraising for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee. The money goes into the real purpose for the program – helping military members and their families. The money, combined with the skills of the union building trades, allows the organization to do more. Sometimes it involves helping a soldier make ends meet while he or she is on a deployment. Other times it may be helping out with a practical daily necessity like plowing snow for a pregnant mother whose husband is away.

“With Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, we can build a ramp or buy someone a refrigerator or some sports equipment for their kids. We can help out a soldier many different ways,” said Minnesota Building and Trades Beyond the Yellow Ribbon committee member Joe Fowler. “The money that’s raised can go towards those things.”

Pork Lift Certified was the Grand Champion with the People’s Choice Award going to Union BBQ. It was an afternoon of humid weather, tasty food and charitable goods.

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