AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City’s Best of the West Ribfest has come a long way from its humble beginnings over 30 years ago to becoming without a doubt one of the premiere events in western North Dakota and among the top events in North Dakota.
I can remember back all of those years ago when Peggy Hellandsaas and I, who were board members on the Chamber of Commerce, thought that having a Ribfest would be a great summer event. With nothing more than an idea, we rounded up some people who thought it sounded like fun and brought their backyard grills to Main Street and cooked up some ribs. It was nothing special. But to us and to the city’s Main Street merchants it was.
It was a great way to bring people downtown and have some fun. It was something different that the Chamber of Commerce had never tried before. And you know what? It worked.