On a picture perfect weather day Saturday, with temperatures in the low 80s, a light breeze, and hardly a cloud in the sky, Dennis Scherger would normally be tending to a vegetable patch in his backyard.
Instead, Mr. Scherger, 72, of Whitehouse, and his wife, Sandy, spent four hours volunteering Saturday at The Blade’s 40th annual Northwest Ohio Rib Off, checking admission tickets as they greeted visitors with a smile at the event entrance gate at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee.
The Schergers were among 175 volunteers at the Rib Off on Saturday, with a total of about 400 volunteering during the weekend. The money they raise is to be transferred directly to their affiliated organizations, such as area churches, schools, and clubs, according to event organizers.
“This is what we’re doing today,” Mr. Scherger said. “It feels good, because we get to help with our church youth activities raising money for a summer camp fund.”
The retired Mercy Health engineer said he and his wife are members of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Maumee, and that the church, through which they were volunteering, was to get $10 per hour for the time each of them volunteered at the event. They previously put in the same hours Friday, when the three-day event kicked off.
Saturday evening, the event was to culminate with a performance from Brett Young, winner of new male vocalist of the year at the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards, who was praised for bringing an honesty and soulfulness back to country music. He had a string of seven No. 1 singles to begin his career, from 2018’s “In Case You Didn’t Know” to 2020’s “Lady,” and released his fourth album, Across the Sheets, in August.
Earlier in the day, Cally Coley, 15, helped attendees park their cars on a grassy plot about 50 yards away, with the area filling up fast.
The Toledo Christian Schools sophomore said she would probably be playing volleyball in her backyard if her family hadn’t decided to answer a call for volunteers.
“I am here to help,” she said as she smiled broadly. “There’s a lot of people who come in. So they need volunteers, because they can’t have everyone doing everything at one time.”
Their friendly attitude did not go unnoticed.
“The atmosphere here has been very, very friendly,” said Tom Crumley, 68, a retired Cleveland-area data analyst. “They’ve all been very friendly. Even the parking attendant was nice.”
Mr. Crumley and his wife of 30 years, Jeannine, who weren’t eating, were with their childhood friends, there to keep them company. It’s their friends who are barbecue lovers and experts, they said as they watched the crowd. Hundreds milled around or sat over their meals on a sunlit lawn in front of a line of barbecue grill stands.
By the time they spoke about 1 p.m., the group of about eight had tried ribs from just about every barbecue stand and were about ready to vote for the best, said Dave Fraylick, 60, a machine operator from Elyria, Ohio, who volunteered to be a spokesman for the group.
“This is really nice here,” Mr. Fraylick said. “What's nice about it is it's open. The areas are nice and open. It's a beautiful day, with a nice breeze. And everything is set up nicely.”
Over the past 30 years, the group had visited numerous rib off competitions, but was attending the Maumee event for the first time, he said before digging into his ribs.
“You can always use more competitors, but it's a good, decent sampling. ... A good sampling, yeah,” Mr. Fraylick said.
He got the ribs from Old Town Barbecue of Rittman, Ohio, after waiting in line for about 10 minutes. Two lines, with about 25 in each, moved fast, as Bridget Gibson, the owner, and her 11 associates served the ribs.
“We've been real busy,” Ms. Gibson said. “I can't wait till the music starts tonight. It's always the best music here.
“We always have a great time [here] at the Rib Off every year. It's real, real good. Always great people, always friendly. And business is good.”
Along with Old Town Barbecue, this year’s Rib Off contestants include Porky Chicks BBQ of Fayetteville, Ark.; Austin's Texas Lightning BBQ of Naperville, Ill.; Armadillo’s Down Home Dixie BBQ of Naperville, Ill.; MoJo’s Famous BBQ of Canton; Deet’s BBQ of Maumee; and O’Henry’s Kitchen on Wheels of Toledo. They are competing for several awards in hopes to be crowned the ultimate rib master by a panel of judges.
On Sunday, Family Day sponsored by Durocher’s, a performance from Van Halen tribute band Jump is scheduled. Admission is $10, including games and inflatables.
Presented by Dunn Chevy, the event at 1406 Key St. will continue through Sunday, with a weekend full of rib tasting, live music, and cornhole tournaments.
For more information, go to blademediakit.com/nworiboff/ .
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