CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The winners of the Clarion BBQ Festival Backyard Contest have been announced.

Despite the rain and cold temperatures, more than 700 people attended the event on Saturday, May 20.

The Clarion BBQ Festival Backyard Contest winners are as follows:

Best Brisket:

First Place: Martin Berkery
Second Place: Chris Kossman
Third Place: Ron Anderson

Best Pork Butt:

First Place: Martin Berkery
Second Place: Ron Anderson
Third Place: Matt Snyder

Best Chicken:

First Place: Matt Snyder
Second Place: Martin Berkery
Third Place: Mike Fennel

Best Ribs:

First Place: Mark Tishko
Second Place: Chris Kossman
Third Place: Matt Snyder

Overall:

First Place: Martin Berkery
Second Place: Matt Snyder
Third Place: Chris Kossman

Doug Bauer, of DB’s Smokin’ BBQ — The Shack, led the judging.

In addition to the backyard BBQ winners, the following individuals were raffle or 50/50 winners:

Ray Lichauer – Ray was the winner of a combo grill and smoker donated by Clarion Hospital Foundation; a $50.00 beef certificate from Clarion Beef Farms; a $50.00 pork certificate from Gruber; a $25.00 certificate from Comet Grocery; $100.00 worth of fuel; and food and snacks from the Walmart Foundation and the Garritano Family. The kit also included the new Grill Grate arranged by Doug Bauer.

50/50 Winners

Mike Reed — Saturday’s winner
Tracy Becker — Sunday’s winner

The raffle and 50/50 money benefited the Clarion Hospital Cancer Center and the Clarion University Tippin Scholarship Fund.

Committee Chairman Bo Garritano told exploreClarion.com, “We missed hearing Robyn Young and Phoenix, but we appreciate you for volunteering, we were looking forward to your performance, but we were upstaged by Mother Nature.”

“We’d also like to thank our entertainment chairperson for the outstanding talent: Mitch Littler; Keep off the Grass; One Wicked Bender; The Legends; and Samantha Sears. They did an outstanding job.”

Vendors included Rick Girt, Rub-N-Tug, Rick Himes, RRR Roadhouse, Brian and Becky Ishman, Smoky B’s, Jason Woodrow, PaPa Wood BBQ, Clarion University, Cheese O’Man Food Truck, the Pizza Hut team, Pizza Hut & Wing Street, Jason and Rosary Pennington, The Meadows Custard, and Follett, the Clarion University Apparel Truck.

Garritano also thanked Joy Lignelli for bringing in local Clarion citizens, business owners and Clarion Athletic department administrators, event coordinator and coaches and Diana Brown and her Clarion Cheerleaders.

“We get a tremendous amount of help to put this event. Thanks to Ryan and the sound crew, M Stewart Services for the whisper generator, Dick Clark for providing his services to run our electrical needs.”

“Also, Clarion Beverage for the beverage truck, Horse Thief Days, Ron Best, and the committee for the barriers, OEM, Randall Stahlman for the horses and Clarion County Adult Probation for the able helpers who worked the perimeter and kept the grounds in pristine condition.”

“We could not have done this without the sponsorship and publicity services and expertise of the Clarion Mall, exploreClarion, C93, Q102, PA Great Outdoors, and Computer Support & Associates.”

The committee includes Tracy Becker, John Stroup, Kelly Stroup, Joyce Garritano, Joy Lignelli, Doug Bauer, Rick Girt, Jim Geiger, and support from Rick Himes, Brian and Becky Ishman, and Jason and Rosary Pennington.

The following organizations sponsored the event:

Clarion Chamber
Clarion Hospital Cancer Center
Barber Trucking
BHS Cardiology
BHS Dermatology
Community First Bank
Farmers National Bank
Clarion County Community Bank
Advanced Disposal
Microtel by Wyndham
Clarion University Administration and Maintenance staff
Apel Electric
Gruber Farms
Clarion Beef
Seidle Chevy GMC Buick