EP # 261: The Second Annual First Responder Rib Cook-Off is bringing a community back together

What makes Darren Clark  with the 2nd Annual Rib Cookoff a good neighbor?

\When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, it didn't discriminate in its destruction. For the Elks Mill Poga Fish Springs Volunteer Fire Department, the devastation was total – their station washed away down the Elk River, equipment gone, and their largest tanker reduced to just a frame and wheels scattered along the riverbed.

But as volunteer firefighter Darren Clark reveals in this moving conversation, catastrophe has a way of bringing out the best in communities. "I don't want to just live in a community, I want to be part of it," shares Darren, who ironically moved to Tennessee from Florida to escape hurricanes, only to face one of the worst storm disasters in Appalachian history.

Now, Darren is spearheading the Second Annual First Responder Rib Cook-Off – a fundraising event that transforms tragedy into opportunity. What began as a modest competition last year has exploded into a major community celebration featuring 19 competing teams of first responders, four bands (including Nashville recording artists), and 73 vendors. The friendly rivalry between sheriff's departments, 911 centers, and fire stations has added an element of excitement, with competitors engaging in good-natured "smack talk" as they prepare to showcase their barbecue skills.

Beyond delicious ribs, the event represents something profound – a community's determination to rebuild stronger than before. "It's kind of like a blessing in disguise," Darren reflects. "It's kind of like 9/11 reunited everybody, and this storm did the same thing." The event offers multiple ways to support the cause, from monetary donations and auction items to volunteering time or becoming a vendor for extremely reasonable rates.

Mark your calendar for August 30th (Labor Day weekend) and join the celebration at this highway-accessible location. Whether you come to sample award-winning barbecue, enjoy live music, or simply contribute to a worthy cause, your presence makes a difference. Find "The Second Annual First Responder Rib Cook-Off" on Facebook for all the details, and be part of the inspiring story of a community that refuses to be defined by disaster.

To learn more about 2nd Annual Rib Cookoff go to:

First Responder Rib Cookoff Facebook Page 

2nd Annual Rib Cookoff

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Skip Monning.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
So today we've got a veryspecial guest.
As a lot of us in this regionknow, we recently went through
some tragic events withHurricane Helene and damage to
so much, and the community iscoming out in full force to help

(00:33):
people get back on their feet,get organizations back running,
doing what they were doingbefore.
And today I'm very fortunate tohave a person doing just that,
and I'm sure you'll be just asexcited as I am to learn all
about them and what they'redoing, because today I have the
pleasure of introducing yourgood neighbor, mr Darren Clark,
who is a volunteer with the ElksMill Poga Fish Springs

(00:57):
Volunteer Fire Department.
Darren, welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Hey Skip, how are you ?

Speaker 2 (01:02):
I'm doing just fine.
Doing just fine.
Hope you're having a good day.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, like I said, you know there's a lot going on
these days to help get WesternNorth Carolina, east Tennessee,
back on their feet, and that'sthat's exactly what you're doing
, and so we're very excited tolearn all about this project
you're working on.
So, if you don't mind, whydon't you kick us off by telling
us about it?

Speaker 3 (01:30):
So back in September, when Hurricane Helene came
through, we lost our entirestation.
It washed down the Elk River,we lost all of our gear,
equipment, one of our bigtankers, and we're needing to
rebuild again.
So I'm throwing a fundraisercalled the Second Annual First
Responder Rib Cook-Off and it'san open competition to all first
responders fire, ems, policeconstables, military.
They can be active or formerand it's going to benefit the

(01:56):
department, but it's also goingto benefit all the stations and
all the different departments.
It's going to be open to thepublic.
Everybody can come out and eatribs.
I've got four bands going to beplaying, there's a ton of
vendors, a ton of games for allages and some of the best food

(02:17):
you'll probably ever have.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
Awesome, and of course all the proceeds go into
a very good cause.

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
Awesome, well, let's learn.
The proceeds go into a verygood cause.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yes, awesome, Well, let's learn a little bit about
you, darren.
Tell us about your journey.
Why did you get into thefirefighting business?
I just like to help mycommunity in whatever way I can.
I came up here from Floridaabout four and a half years ago
and I just had a calling to comehere and serve.
I don't want to just live in acommunity, I want to be part of
it, and I got an invite to go toa meeting and I ended up

(02:52):
signing up and I love that I doit now.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Very good, very good.
Well, we appreciate what you do.
So and tell us I mean, you'vealready touched on why we're
having the fundraiser becauseyour station got completely
wiped out but if you don't mindtelling us what your goal is
with this fundraiser.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
I don't really have a monetary goal set yet.
Anything we can bring in isgoing to help.
I mean the community has beenreally good to us between
churches and community.
I mean everybody has stepped upsince the storm to help
everybody all together.
But we had had the first annualRed Breeze cook-off last year

(03:38):
and it was to get needed gearand things like that and
obviously anything we hadpurchased from the revenue of
that is gone down the river.
So now we're starting totallyfrom scratch.
But where are we rebuilding?
I mean it's coming back.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Well, you said you mentioned a tanker, including
you lost a tanker.
Was it a total loss?

Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yes, it's gone.
I mean, we found the chassisabout I don't know half a mile
down the river when we pulled itout.
All that was left was the frameand the wheels.
We've just discovered part ofthe cab another probably half
mile up the river.
We haven't found the engine orany of it, but it was our
biggest tanker.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
It was a 3,500 tanker and it went down the river like
a toy.
Wow, unbelievable, unbelievable.
Well, this is you know.
My next question has to do withdescribing a hardship or a life
challenge.
Obviously, helene has been ahuge one, but is that something
that you?
Wanted to see if you've had alife challenge, or or either
professionally or personally,that you rose above and now can
say that you're stronger orbetter off for it.

Speaker 3 (04:44):
I mean, I'm from Florida, so I've lived my entire
life dealing with hurricanesand I I came up here and I said
I am done with those.
I'm 2,100 above sea level, I'llnever have to deal with that
again.
And I got pummeled here.
I mean this area was justdevastating.
But I mean we came together.
I'd hate to say that, but itwas kind of like a blessing in

(05:04):
disguise.
It's kind of like 911 reunitedeverybody and this storm did the
same thing.
Everybody came together to helpone another and we're coming
back bigger and stronger than wewere before.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
Awesome, awesome.
Well, how can, besidesattending, come into the
fundraiser?
What else can our listeners doto help support your fire
department?

Speaker 3 (05:29):
Well, obviously, monetary donations are huge.
We're also looking fordonations, prizes that we can
use as silent auction items,raffle prizes, door prizes.
We did set up an Amazonregistry.
I can send you the link forthat.
I've got a bunch of barbecuethemed items on there from all

(05:51):
price points, anything from $10all the way up to $500.
So whatever anybody'scomfortable with and helping out
with, those prizes again willbe used for prizes at the event.
Donate time.
You know this.
This is a big event.
It's going to take a lot ofhands to pull this off between.

(06:11):
We could use people just to,you know, sell armbands and and
park people and run games, andyou know all parts of it.
Or you can become a vendor um,uh, come out, showcase your
business or your products and,uh, you know that also brings in
money for us through the vendorfees how much is uh?

Speaker 2 (06:33):
would a vendor booth be for somebody?

Speaker 3 (06:35):
it's 40 for a 10 by 10 space and it's $60 for a 10
by 20.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
Wow, that is a really affordable for event marketing.
I mean that's, that's notexpensive at all, and I imagine
how many folks do you expect tohave?

Speaker 3 (06:53):
I've got as far as vendors or people, people like
attendance.
Well, last year was our firstannual, which first annuals are
tough to get off the ground, butwe had it probably two miles
off the roadway, like it back ina recreation park, and we had
probably 400 people show up toit.
This event's going to be righton the side of the highway.

Speaker 2 (07:12):
I'm I'm we're thinking 2500 people will
probably come out wow, well yougot you said a ton of vendors
and bands playing.

Speaker 3 (07:21):
We got 73 vendors right now um four bands um,
three of which are nashvillerecording artists.
So we'll have a bluegrass bandand we're going to have three
country bands.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
Awesome.
Well, if any of our listenersown a business, would like to
contribute or just personallywould like to contribute, either
by through donation or by beinga vendor, or by volunteering to
come out and help.
How can they learn more?
Where can they go?

Speaker 3 (07:49):
They can go to the second annual First Responder
Rib Cook-Off on Facebook andthey can message me or call me
through there.
My contact information is onthere.
We do recognize all sponsors onthe page.
Any donation valued at $100 ormore.
We are given a free vendorspace as well.
So we've had a lot of vendorscome in that way saying we want

(08:12):
to help and I'm like, well, then, we'll give you a free space.
And they're like, well, that'snot why we're doing it, but we
give them a free space.
So it's a win-win for everybody.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
Absolutely, and the official name is the second
annual first responders Ribcook-off Rib cook-off.
Any competition going on withthe cook-off Rib cook-off.

Speaker 3 (08:32):
Any competition going on with the cook-off.
Well, right now I have got 19teams signed up.
It's getting fun now becausenow the smack talk, if you want
to call it, that is going onbetween the competitors.
And I've got Carter CountySheriff's signed up, then
Johnson County Sheriff's signedup, so now they're dueling
between themselves.
I've got Johnson County 911,now Carter County 911 signed up.

(08:53):
I've got a bunch of firedepartments, I've got constables
.
We're still growing.
I think we'll probably getthree or four more teams before
the event starts.

Speaker 2 (09:01):
Wow Well, 19 different kinds of barbecue man.
Is it strictly ribs, or is itpulled pork too?

Speaker 3 (09:09):
There's going to be all kinds of food out there.
The ribs are the only thingwe're judging on.
But people, last year we hadchicken, we had brisket, I mean
you name it Fried bolognasandwiches.
I mean there's gonna be allkinds of sides.
Food's going to be amazing thisyear, I mean, and the best part
about it is the public gets tocome and enjoy it all Awesome.

(09:30):
And the date again Is August30th.
It's Labor Day weekend.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
People should be off work.
They have no excuse not to come.
I'm hoping, yes, absolutely,absolutely.
So you heard it here, folks,the second annual first
responder rib cook-off on Augustthe 30th and you can check out
the Facebook page by the samename to find out how you can
help.
And, if nothing else, pleasejust come out and help.

(10:01):
Support our neighbors, darren.
Thank you so much.
Anything else you'd like to add?

Speaker 3 (10:07):
I think that's about it.
We just look forward to seeingeverybody out there on the 30th.

Speaker 2 (10:11):
All right.
Well, darren, thanks again fortaking time out of your busy
schedule to share this with meand with our listeners, and we
wish you all the best with thefundraiser and getting the fire
department rebuilt and put backtogether and appreciate what
you're doing, appreciate whatyou do for the community.
I appreciate you, skip.

Speaker 3 (10:31):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (10:31):
Absolutely, and maybe we can have you back on as we
get closer to the event.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
Sounds good, appreciate it All right.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
Thanks so much.

Speaker 1 (10:39):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
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