By Payton Tholstrup
Images courtesy of Eric Babb, owner of Kill Creek Craft BBQ
Kill Creek Craft BBQ owner, Eric Babb, has a deep appreciation for those who serve others, and has found a unique way to show it: through food.
This past spring, Babb and his wife, Amanda, moved from North Dakota to Palmer. They had visited his family in Kansas many times and Amanda fell in love with the state from the very beginning. Their son, Lawson, is a pharmacist in Washington, KS, so the two decided to move, taking the business with them.
“We started Kill Creek Craft BBQ about 5 years ago. We specialize in craft-style BBQ, which is pretty different from anything else around here. At first, it was a little side hustle, but since the move, I am now doing BBQ full time,” said Babb.
Kill Creek Craft BBQ caters for special events and takes custom orders for people during the holidays and such. The business also has a food trailer.
“It has always been on my heart to serve first responders, active duty, and veteran military personnel. One of the first people I ever followed on Instagram was Amanda Riggan, who had just started a nonprofit called Hungry Heroes. I loved what she was doing,” Babb said.
Through a series of various BBQ events, he and his friend, Cade, from Smoak Craft BBQ in Kansas City, had the opportunity to volunteer and cook for a veteran’s hunting event at the E3 Ranch in Fort Scott, KS.
It was there that he met Riggan in person and the two became close friends. Babb became a member of Hungry Heroes volunteer team and began serving nationally wherever there was a need.
Riggan’s biggest dream was to serve BBQ in New York, in memory of 9/11. That dream came true when the two were volunteering in Louisiana this past year. She received a call, asking her if she could feed 1,000 people in New York this September. Immediately, Riggan asked Babb to come with her.
Babb travelled to New York City and stayed for six days. On September 12th, he and several other volunteers prepared for the event, where first responders could bring their families and get a free meal. They cooked meat for 1,000 people.
The event had a special ceremony to celebrate the lives of first responders who served in 9/11. First responders who lost their lives during 9/11 were also honored.
On his last full day in New York, he visited the 9/11 Memorial where the Twin Towers once stood. He walked to the water’s edge a few blocks away to see the Statue of Liberty from afar.
Even though these were two places he really wanted to see while in New York, he said the event itself was the highlight of the trip. The group is already in the preliminary stages of planning for next year.
“Serving is the most fulfilling part of what I do. I ask the Lord every day to put me in a position to help others. It’s become a major part of who I am and what I stand for. I simply don’t feel I can ever give enough back to those who put their lives on the line for us,” said Babb.
Babb has continued volunteering at E3 Ranch since his first volunteer experience there. He cooks food for any events they have, with his wife supporting him along the way.
“We need to sell BBQ so that I have an income, but we also believe that many of our successes have come full circle because of the investment we have made in putting others first.”
