NATCHEZ — While some locals watched a re-enactment of Jim Bowie’s famous knife fight at the Bowie Festival Saturday, other festival-goers had a much different way of participating in the festivities.

Standing over massive pits of smoldering wood and grilled meats, participants in the barbecue contest all had one goal in mind — winning.

While Saturday’s barbecue event was a larger contest for professional participants in the Memphis Barbecue Network, others were simply there to cook.

“The cooking’s great,” Jane Greer said as she plotted with her husband Kyle about their cooking ribs.

Last year the Greers won the best ribs contest in the amateur competition and were hoping to repeat the winning recipe for the judges again Saturday.

For Jane Greer, cooking ribs takes more than just a big barbecue pit.

“It takes a lot of patience,” she said.

By Saturday afternoon her ribs had already been cooking for more than five hours.

And Saturday’s dreary weather wasn’t helping.

“The rain can cool your fire so you have to be able to maintain a constant temperature,” she said. “It’s critical for cooking. And of course they have to taste good.”

Greer said her favorite flavoring combination for the ribs are a balance between sweet and salty.

Donna Sessions coordinates the amateur competition and said it’s a good opportunity for local cooks to have their food judged by professional judges at the event for the professional competition.

“It’s a great chance for our local cooks,” Sessions said.

And the idea is gaining popularity in the completive cooking community.

“We have more people competing in the amateur ribs contest,” Sessions said. “Our cooks really love it.”

And for some cooks at the event, while the competition is important, there are more trophies to be had.

Neal Laws from St. Amant, La., said while he usually places in the amateur contests he enters, winning isn’t that important.

“It’s about being out here with your family and friends and having some good food,” Laws said. “You can’t take it too seriously, it’s too fun.”