The Best In The West Nugget Rib Cook-Off is back for it's 28th time. Just a couple of the rib cookers were in Sparks for the inaugural event and only one has been to every single cook-off since. Joey Sutphen is the owner of Texas Thunder BBQ. He says a lot has changed since 1989.
"There were just six of us here," Sutphen said. "In fact, the arts and crafts was in the middle and we smoked those people's clothes, and their shirts, and their rugs."
Changes were made, moving the arts and crafts away from the smoke, and Sutphen says the once modest barbecue event continued to evolve.
"Every year, it's grown and it's gotten better and the bigger crowd and more people are having fun, and we just enjoy coming," Sutphen said.
Tom Ferguson was also in town for the first rib cook-off. The owner of Chicago BBQ Company has only missed one rib cook-off in Sparks, and says the event's growth is shocking.
"I'm amazed that it became the #1 barbecue event in the nation," Ferguson said.
Ferguson says he came to the first cook-off by himself, and hired locals to work for him. His staff has grown, and he has had to increase the amount of equipment he needs. A cooker that holds 140 slabs of ribs is not nearly enough.
"28 years ago, I just had a small one of these that I brought out," Ferguson said. "That's all I brought out but I've got this huge trailer."
Ferguson says coming back to Sparks for so many years has been good for business. He says he has built a reputation with his customers, who keep coming back, year after year. Officials say more than 500,000 patrons are expected to attend the six-day event.
"Year by year, people keep coming back to you because the ribs are good, as well as you're getting some new people trying your ribs," Ferguson said. "So, every year, your clientele builds."
He's already noticed that, this year. He says Wednesday was the second-best opening day since he's been coming here. Sutphen says he's seen the same type of growth over the years. Both have become good friends with other competitors, too.
"I've seen a lot of them disappear, and unfortunately, a few of them have gone onto Heaven, but I'm still the one they worry about. I'm the competition," Sutphen said.
