Submitted photo The Meat Rubbers of Marshall took the 2026 overall title at the Balaton Fun Fest Rib Cook off Saturday.

BALATON — Brandon Koster of the Yankton, South Dakota, Smokem Out team fired up his home made smoker at the Balaton Fun Fest to compete in the fifth annual rib cook off.

“Made it out of a 275-gallon vertical oil drum which used to be in basements of houses. Father and I built it. It took us about a year to build because we had limited time,” Koster said. “I have eight sliding racks and one top stationary rack. My top box there I use to pre-dry my wood so it catches fire right away. (It’s on) 14 boat trailer. I use straight logs, no charcoal.”

Meanwhile, Jason Platt with the Platt BBQ team smoked some bacon wrapped Oreos while waiting for ribs, chicken and sides cooking in smokers.

Their strategy: Preparing two sets of chicken and decide later which ones to enter. One set of chicken thighs were marinated in Dill Pickle rub, while the other in Cherry Dr. Pepper.

While the Smoking Spouses team of Brad and Rachel Hodges said they have been grilling and smoking for years, they took more of a cautions outlook.

“We’re just kind of getting into it (competition). We’re in the amateur league. We’re not in the pro league. We’re not going to Kansas City tomorrow,” Rachel Hodges said.

But when the all the smoke finally cleared from the rib cook off cleared, the Meat Rubbers team of Brian Sieber and Ben Martius, both of Marshall, captured the overall cook off title. The team didn’t reveal a whole lot of their strategy while smoking their entries, but Sieber talked about their side of twice baked potato with cream cheese, jalapinos and onions.

The Platt BBQ team took second and Smokem Out finished third.

In the ribs category, the Marshall Meat Rubbers and Platt BBQ tied for first. In the chicken category, the Marshall Meat Rubbers took first. And in the sides category, Platt BBQ finished first.

Cook off organizer Rick Karbo said there was a “very good turnout” for the Fun Fest event.

“We had eight teams participate, cooked 100 racks of ribs that we got from Hometown meats in Slayton,” he said. “We thank all that donate to this event, because it wouldn’t be possible without all the donations and support from those that come and purchase the ribs. All of the moneys go toward the Fun Fest events. We did payout to the three places for overall and that would be the ribs, chicken and a side.”