If you didn’t get enough barbecue last weekend there’s another chance at this weekend’s Flint Hills Beef Fest, which runs Friday through Sunday. And if you’re looking for more than just barbecue, the Beef Fest will have that, too, with activities for all ages.
Friday’s activities at the Lyon County Fairgrounds will start bright and early with a live radio broadcast from 6 to 7 a.m., followed by a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. For those interested in agricultural issues, an agricultural seminar will be held at 8:30 a.m.
For 20 years, the Beef Fest has provided people with a variety of activities to enjoy. This year, the 21st year, looks to be no exception.
The Eighth Annual Beef Fest Blues and Barbecue starts at 9 a.m. Friday with registration. Barbecue categories — beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken, dessert, pork butt and misc. beef — are the choices for contestants to enter. Prize money, ribbons and plaques will be awarded.
Come hungry at 6 p.m. Friday night for the ranch feed in the Anderson Building. But the fun doesn’t stop at the ranch feed. A ranch rodeo begins at 7 p.m. Saddles will be presented to the first-place team in the rodeo. A band plays at 8 p.m.
Saturday will bring a full day of activities for young and old alike. Saturday morning at 9 a.m., judging of cattle at Emporia Livestock Sales kicks off the day. Kids will have the chance to participate in pony wagon rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Horses and their riders get to strut their skills at the 10 a.m. ranch horse competition.
A kids tractor pull starts at 11 a.m. and registration begins an hour before the competition. If all the activities help participants work up an appetite, free hamburgers and Coke will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while they last.
Also at 11 a.m., crunch time begins for barbecue competitors — judging starts around noon.
Test your throwing skills at the cow chip toss and catch at 1 p.m. Gloves are optional.
Saturday evening brings everything from a steak dinner at 6 p.m. to ventriloquist performer Phil Hughes at 8:30 p.m. Prior to his performance, the moment of truth will arrive for barbecue competitors. Awards and presentations will be announced at 7:30 p.m. It will be time to slip on dancing shoes for the annual dance from 9:30 p.m. to midnight.
On Sunday, a golf tournament will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course. Team roping takes place at 10 a.m.
Also during the weekend, beef cattle will be judged in several events — the Grass Futurity Contest, stocker cattle show, best of grass and show, the feedlot contest and a carcass show.
Tickets for adults cost $10 and $5 for a child; the steak dinner and dance tickets are $25 each. Tickets can be purchased from the Emporia Veterinary Hospital, 710 Anderson, Jim’s Cowboy Shop, 312 Commercial and Frontier Farm Credit, 1221 E. 12th. No tickets will be sold at the door for the dinner and dance.
For more information on the Beef Fest go to www.beeffest.com or call 344-3849.