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Big crowds turn out for Smokin' in Steele

Owatonna Peoples Press - 6/5/2017

OWATONNA - It's another year on the books for Smokin' in Steele, the annual Owatonna blues and barbecue festival at the Steele County fairgrounds.

Organized by local blues enthusiast John Hammer and sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 945, the festival brings thousands of attendees each year to benefit Special Olympics and other causes, and Friday and Saturday were no different, Hammer said.

"It's been excellent," he said. "We had record entries in the bike cruise, higher numbers in the run, and we had capacity, 31 kids in [kids 'cue] last night. ? It's hard [to count] because so many things are free, but Park Square was absolutely packed for the backyard barbecue."

Those are just a sample of the special events and attractions that ran over the course of the festival. Performing over the two days were 13 different blues bands, for free in Park Square and for a $10 cover charge in the beer garden. And while the musicians set toes to tapping, the barbecuers were setting mouths to watering.

"It was great. The level of the prop competition was excellent," said Lyle Coleman, who runs the barbecue side of the festival. "We had some teams that it was their first time competing, and some that are multiple-time American Royal award winners."

One of those teams was Nagan for More BBQ, a father-son duo of Greg and Mike Nagan of St. Paul. The pair go to five or six competitions each year in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but Smokin' in Steele is always a highlight of their schedule.

"It's a great event," Greg Nagan said. "The organizers do a really great job with it. One of the best-run barbecue competitions we've attended."

Barbecue in a professional competition is serious business, and the teams are up much of the night and following day nursing their equipment to turn out perfect ribs, chicken, brisket and more. Mike Nagan said they enjoy the challenge, but it does have a downside - they don't have much chance to listen to the music.

"We get committed right here. We fire it up in the middle of the night and work right through," he said.

But the results speak for themselves.

"We were really happy with our cook," Greg Nagan said, while awaiting final judging Saturday afternoon. "We hope the judges feel the same way."

The weather trended hot and humid all weekend, although it was only after 3 p.m. Saturday, when all the barbecue was finished, that a storm arrived, delivering 10 minutes of pounding rain before moving off again.

But it's all part of the deal running a popular outdoor event, Hammer said.

"It wouldn't be Smokin' if we didn't have at least a little spit, but fortunately like always it split around us," he said.

And despite the heat and rain, organizers and participants alike said the weekend was worth all the effort.

"The organizers did just an awesome job," Greg Nagan said. "Kudos to Owatonna for putting on such a great event. I just wish we would've had time to enjoy some of the music."