Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

The 22nd annual Rhubarb Rhevival is soliciting contestants who will vie for prizes at the Washakie County Fair on Saturday, July 29 at 2 p.m. in the administration building at the fairgrounds.

Rhubarb superintendent Jeff Lapp invites anyone who enjoys rhubarb to be present with their favorite rhubarb dish.

This fun event began in 2002 as a celebration of the sugar beet industry, and to support our local Wyoming Sugar producers. It was postulated by the founders of this event that rhubarb requires more sugar per unit of consumption than any other food ingredient, and therefore encouraging the consumption of rhubarb was the best way to work on the demand side of the sugar industry. “The event has had a loyal following every year, but we’re looking for more participants,” said Lapp.

Shelley Spence founded the event, and served for several years as rhubarb superintendent. She retired in order to become a contestant, and has been selected by the judges as “Rhubarb Queen” more than once.

“This event has been a lot of fun over many years, and is a great way to exchange recipes and expand our concept of how to use this delicious plant,” said Spence. Spence has a prolific rhubarb patch, and anyone who needs to borrow some rhubarb to enter the contest may call her at 272-4456.

To enter, contestants should select their favorite rhubarb recipe, and prepare it for presentation to a panel of distinguished judges, who will evaluate all the entries live in front of the audience.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners at the discretion of the judges. To qualify, a winning entry must have rhubarb and sugar as primary ingredients. The judges may disqualify any entry lacking in locally grown genuine Wyoming Sugar. Use of any other form of sweetener may result in disqualification. Contestants may visit the offices at the fairgrounds to “borrow” the amount of Wyoming Sugar required by their recipe.

Multiple entries may be submitted.

The written recipe must be submitted with the entry in legible form and suitable for publication in the Northern Wyoming News. Contestants will be required to present their dish, and describe their preparation technique to the audience. Presentation style or showmanship may be considered by the judges as a factor in selecting the winners, and creativity in presentation is encouraged.

Bribes are permitted, so long as they are non-monetary and morally appropriate.

Inspiration for the original event included the episode of the Andy Griffith show in which Aunt Bea took her horrible pickles to the county fair, and lost to perennial champion Clara Edwards. Additional inspiration was found in Garrison Keillor’s National Public Radio program, sponsored in part by the comical and fictional Be-Bop-a-Re-Bop Rhubarb Pie.

“It’s all about having a few laughs, and sharing a good time,” said Jeff Lapp, “But there are cash prizes to be won !”

Following the judging, the audience is invited to taste test all the entries. 

For more information, inquire at the administrative offices on the fairgrounds.