Modern Gas Rib Showdown set for Saturday

ALBANY — This weekend music lovers and barbecue aficionados will come together for a great cause when Albany’s Modern Gas hosts its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Rib Showdown.

The walk, which is being hosted by Modern Gas for the third year in a row, is the organization’s largest fundraiser in Albany, according to Alzheimer’s Association Director of Constituent Events Lindsey Richard, who is also the walk coordinator.

“It’s huge,” Richard said. “It’s how we get the word out about Alzheimer’s.”

Richard said roughly 300 people participated in last year’s walk and that she expects to see that number grow as more people realize how “unique” the Albany walk is among the 32 that are held throughout the state every year. That uniqueness, Richard said, comes from the involvement of Modern Gas, which has helped raise the event’s profile in the community.

“In my opinion, it’s the best walk in the state,” said Richard. “It’s really cool. They do a nature walk (behind the company’s location on 1335 U.S. Highway 82) that is different from any other walk in Georgia. We’re unbelievably thankful for all Modern Gas does for us.”

While the approximately 2-mile walk through the property behind the showroom and into a nearby neighborhood is enough to set the walk apart, the event takes on an entirely different level of excitement since it has been combined with Modern Gas’ annual Rib Showdown, which is entering its fourth year.

“The first year we did the rib showdown, what we wanted was a plain old rib show, a fun barbecue competition,” said Modern Gas President Mark Holloway. “It’s designed for somebody who says, ‘You know, I’ve got some really good ribs, y’all, but I’m not going to the Big Pig Jig and investing $1,000. This is for folks who like to cook ribs but aren’t professional competitors.”

Holloway said the first event drew a crowd on its own, but it really became popular when it was combined with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Holloway said Modern Gas got involved in the walk after the company decided it needed to lend its support to the organization, which had formerly held its walk in downtown Albany, along the Flint River.

“We’ve done a lot of charitable things over the years, giving to different organizations, but we didn’t have anything year-in and year-out that we stood for,” said Holloway. “If people asked us what we did, we didn’t have a good answer. This has now become the annual thing that we support, that we’re known for.”

Over the years, the event has continued to evolve and now features live music and a cornhole tournament, in addition to the rib contest and the Alzheimer’s walk.

“It’s worked out very well,” said Holloway. “It’s a fun day.”

Holloway said the Rib Showdown has continued to increase in popularity and that last year there were 20 entrants. The cost to enter the competition is $50, and the ribs will be judged by a panel of four honorary judges and two Georgia Barbecue Association judges. The first place contest finisher will take home $500, with second place earning $250 and third place $100.

Competitors are asked to pre-register so that Modern Gas can have an adequate number of grilling stations set up for the grills, and Holloway is adamant that the focus of the competition is for amateur grillers, not professionals. Therefore, grills must be limited in size and fit in a 10×10 space, which discourages competitors from bringing large, pull-behind grills.

Due to health department regulations, competitors are not allowed to sell any of the food they prepare, but teams are able to give away any food outside of what they present to the judges. Holloway said how much food is given away is strictly up to the competitors. However, Riverfront BBQ will be on site with food for sale.

Holloway said a lot of the activity at this year’s event will be held in the afternoon. In the morning, the Modern Gas showroom will be open to the public, and the company will offer a number of deals. Rib contest competitors will set up starting at 11 a.m. Registration for the cornhole tournament will start at noon.

That tournament will get under way at 1 p.m. and will be followed, starting at 4 p.m., with a number of activities, including the walk registration at 5 p.m. and the walk opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. Live music will be played throughout the evening starting at 5 p.m. Artists set to perform include Stephen Harrell, Mike Cooper, Durango Larry and the Jodi Mann Band.

Competitors in the rib contest have to submit their ribs to the judges at 7 p.m. Winners will be announced at 8 p.m.

“There will be lots of fun activities going on,” Holloway said. “And it’s all free, except for the people who are entering the rib competition. People can make a donation to the Alzheimer Association if they want to, but there is no cost to come out and have a good time.”

Any donations to the Alzheimer’s Association will go toward the organization’s yearly goal of $88,500. Richard said so far the organization has collected $57,000, 65 percent of goal.

“We’ve got a little ways to go, but I know Albany can do it,” she said.

To learn more about the Albany Walk to End Alzheimer’s and the Alzheimer’s Association, visit act.alz.org.