America's Rib King

🔥The Fire That Built America🔥

America wasn’t built in a rush.
It was built by people who understood something most folks today try to shortcut…

Anything worth having takes time.

That’s true for a country.
And it’s true for a slab of ribs.

“If you’re in a hurry, you’re not cooking BBQ… you’re just heating meat.” – Famous Dave

Dave has always believed the fire teaches you something if you’re willing to stay long enough. You don’t control it… you respect it. You tend it. You learn its rhythm.

That’s what built America over 250 years:

People who showed up early

Stayed when it got hard

And didn’t quit when things didn’t turn out perfect the first time

“Success isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up every day and tending your fire.” – Famous Dave

This 250th celebration isn’t just about looking back.
It’s about asking…

👉 What kind of fire are we tending today?

Because freedom—like BBQ—doesn’t sustain itself.
It requires attention. Effort. Commitment.

🔥 Low and slow. Day after day. Year after year.

That’s how you build something that lasts 250 years.

A THOUGHT FOR 2026 “The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler- American writer, futurist, business consultant, and businessman

KEYWORDS: Technology Shift, Change Agent, Knowledge Seekers, Force for Good, Unconditional Love, PowerShifts in Knowledge, Renewing of the Mind.

The ability to unlearn and relearn is a concept explored in Alvin Toffler’s influential book Future Shock, which came out in 1970 but so perceptively forward especially relevant to today’s accelerated Artificial Intelligent world. His other books The Third Wave 1980 and Powershift 1990 were futuristic in understanding the incredible knowledge advancements happening today. Alvin died in 2016 and I wonder how he’d be thinking with today’s Artificial Intelligence just now taking off?

I think as this new year comes faster than ever, it seems we are in for one of the most complex, technological shifts in our world, our daily living, and for sure it’s going to be one shocker of a year 2026 to anyone who can’t let the past go.

Failure is going to happen more often, driven by massive technology advancements that for most of us— we will have a hard time comprehending.

Don’t be afraid of failure in the coming future. Failure is all part of change and in the past we were able to cope with failure because it wasn’t happening as rapidly all the time.

Today, survival will be all about moving forward and learning how to move forward through failure. Failure will be a greater part of the learning curve. Failure is NOT a defining personal character trait but the skillset of unlearning of what didn’t work and the relearning of what’s needed—and moving forward successfully can only happen through a greater rate of failure.

From failure comes learning and the urgent need to survive creates wisdom. The greater the wisdom, the greater your ability becomes to overcome adversities caused by a breakdown of past knowledge.

Today, more than ever we will need a community of knowledge seekers and more than ever our youth who are becoming more fluent in today’s technology advancements will be increasingly our conduit to our ability to somewhat relevant. Today’s Change Agents will not be the ones with a cause but those who can teach others how to understand today’s technology.

One thing for sure—if you stand in judgement of others, things, or situations that are happening—I’d like to suggest, you first ask yourself from what base of information are you making these judgments?

If your thinking and “how you judge others” and your understanding of “what is happening” –causes you to hate things—you maybe on a trajectory of self-destruction—because this hate & anger keeps you from understanding your own future, future opportunities, or even your own ability to stay relevant, independent, and self-sufficient.

The lesson here that will never change is the age old fundamental law of survivorship—YOU NEED OTHERS TO SURVIVE. The greater your relevancy and your ability to contribute to the greater good of a community will be your saving grace. Your ability to attract and co-mingle with others in your community will be your access to understanding and the ever expanding knowledge base to this new changing world.

In today’s society, you have to contribute in ways of rethinking, rebuilding, and re-investing which means you have to be thinking and living in the future. And the way everything is changing so fast, you can’t be wasting time rethinking what happened in the past, or even what somebody else did in the past.

We used to say that studying the past gives us insight into the future. I am not so sure how much of that is a relevant statement today.

There is one great saving grace for survival in tomorrow’s new world— and that is Unconditional Love. Now more than ever we will need our love to flow so freely that there can never be any question about what drives you.

I have often shared that I don’t work for money but I have learned long ago that “My Whole Purpose In Life is Just To Make You Happy!”… in other words I live to be a positive difference in other people’s lives by understanding how to resolve their problems. If they’re hungry (a huge problem)—I make them happy by being really good at giving them the best tasting slo-smoked tender juicy mouthwatering BBQ Ribs!

Which means you have to strive to be the very best (not entirely for your own beneft) but for the sole purpose of being really good at resolving other people’s problems from a heart of goodness that is not centered on yourself and what you get.

I think my cooking and my barbecue is my passion, my love, and what makes me happy—especially when I see the huge, delightful smiles of families who love how their kids are really happy with one of my tasty ribs!

When I cook I have happy butt rockin’ music going because I think its all about Energy and Good Vibes. Happy music has a energy force that flows through me and more importantly this energy also flows into my seasonings, my sauces, and the dancing fire that flame kisses my veggies and my meats! Which is what makes people happy!

I am also a God filled person that believes that faith is one of the Universe’s most powerful energy vibes and this Faith Force transfers into my cooking and my creative jewelry making. God’s Love is in everything I do! If you love my barbecue its because God’s Love, Energy, Good Vibes is flowing in my cooking. If you love wearing my jewelry its because God’s Love, Energy, Good Vibes is flowing through my craftsmanship into my jewelry!

Where I am going with this thought– is that today, things are going to be happening so fast that we can’t be overwhelmed by what’s happening or even what other people are doing. You need to be filled with only positive thoughts, positive vibes, and positive energy.

You can’t change the world by being critical, judgmental, confrontational, or filled with anger and hate.
You only change the world by being a better person and letting the world make its only decision on how they respect, honor, or love you back.

There are things happening in the world that will happen regardless of how you feel about it. It’s always been that way. Instead of getting your underwear in a bundle griping about something you really can’t change—use this energy in a better way to be A Force For Good in your own area of influence.

Don’t fill your head with yesterday’s trash thinking.

Don’t be a person that causes confrontation.

Be a person that everyone gravitates to because people are so wanting & needing a positive force in their lives—you be that person!

Don’t be a person that causes problems for others but be the person that resolves problems for others.

When you are A Force For Good and A Force For God—your community will be infinitely better because of you!

I leave you with one of the more futuristic writings ever—The Holy Bible. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

You can’t be living for the future without unlearning, relearning, developing new thinking, and the renewing of your mind— if you can’t LET THE PAST GO!

Happiest New Years and I wish for you a gushing waterfall of Happiness, Peace, Blessings, and an Abundance of Love in 2026 —“Famous Dave”

🍁 A THANKFUL TABLE 🍁

When I was a kid, the night before the rice harvest, we’d offer to***co and give thanks — for family, for food, for the Creator’s blessings.

Thanksgiving has always been about that spirit:
🧡 Gratitude
🧡 Togetherness
🧡 Sharing good food

And this year, if you add wild rice — the original Native American staple — to your feast… you’re doing more than cooking.
You’re honoring a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.

I’m humbled to share these recipes with you through my Kindle book, Indian Wild Rice Recipes.
They come from the lakes, from the canoes, from the kettles, from my family…
and now, they’re yours.

🪶 Wishing you a warm, grateful, and delicious Thanksgiving.
May your table be full and your hearts even fuller.

📖 Last chance to grab the Kindle edition before the big day:
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2PTDRMW

🦃 RECIPE SPOTLIGHT:
Wild Rice & Cranberry Turkey Stuffing

Okay, folks… listen…
If you want to be the Thanksgiving hero this year, THIS is the dish.

When I put wild rice stuffing on the table, I’ve seen people go back for seconds before they’ve even finished their first plate!

It’s got:
✨ Real Indian wild rice (tender but nutty!)
✨ Sweet cranberries
✨ Toasted walnuts
✨ Savory sausage
✨ Fresh herbs
✨ Northwoods magic

This isn’t just stuffing…
it’s a flavor parade marching straight through your dining room.

And it’s right out of the Kindle edition of Indian Wild Rice Recipes.

Turn your Thanksgiving into something unforgettable — and authentically Native.
Your family will talk about this one until NEXT Thanksgiving.

📖 Get the book here:
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2PTDRMW

🔥 COOKING WITH WILD RICE 101 🔥
If you’ve never cooked real Indian wild rice before… don’t worry!
It’s easier than you think — and the flavor?
Unbelievable. Nutty. Smoky. Truly Native.

Growing up Ojibwe, wild rice wasn’t a “special occasion” food…
it was a way of life. A staple that saw us through long winters and big family feasts.

🪶 And now YOU can bring that same tradition to your Thanksgiving table.

Inside Indian Wild Rice Recipes, I walk you step-by-step through preparing REAL hand-harvested wild rice — the good stuff — so your dishes turn out perfect every time.

Whether you’re making:
🥣 My Famous Chicken Wild Rice Soup
🍛 Wild Rice & Cranberry Turkey Stuffing
🍲 Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup
…or just serving it as a beautiful, earthy side dish…

Your guests will be asking,
“Why haven’t we done THIS every Thanksgiving?”

📖 Get the Kindle edition here:
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2PTDRMW

📣 Indian Wild Rice Recipes Kindle Launch

🔥 BIG NEWS, FOLKS! 🔥

Just in time for Thanksgiving, my very first cookbook — Indian Wild Rice Recipes — is now available on Kindle!

Before I ever became “Famous Dave,” I was just a young Ojibwe kid out on the lakes near Hayward, Wisconsin, learning to harvest Manoomin — real Indian wild rice — the same way our people have done for hundreds of years.

🪶 Wild rice isn’t just food — it’s history. It’s culture. It’s our soul on the table.

And if you want to make your Thanksgiving meal more authentically traditional, this is the year to do it! Adding wild rice to your feast brings a true Native American staple to your family’s table — just like it’s been part of ours for generations.

This cookbook is packed with delicious, easy-to-follow recipes your guests will be raving about:
🥣 My Famous Chicken Wild Rice Soup
🥗 Cranberry Astoria Salad Supreme
🍛 Wild Rice & Cranberry Turkey Stuffing
🍞 Indian Wild Rice & Applesauce Nut Bread

These aren’t just recipes — they’re stories, memories, and the flavors of the Northwoods passed down from my family to yours.

✨ Make this Thanksgiving a little more traditional — and a lot more delicious.

📖 Grab your copy of Indian Wild Rice Recipes on Kindle:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2PTDRMW

IT BEGINS!!! After all these years--a Lifetime overcoming some of the toughest life's challenges and unbelievable success, heart wrenching failures, getting sober...but never giving up--I am now undertaking videoing my life's story! Street Smart Success Strategies of America's Rib King--"How I took my backyard grill and turned it into a Restaurant Empire!"

We're doing both written and videos of my life's story--something every student, every business owner, those thinking of going into business, and really anyone wanting to succeed in life, especially if you're not living your life's greatest dreams--this will be inspiring, thought provoking, and full of OMG INSIGHTS that will jumpstart you into your best years ever!

Over the years, I have been a highly requested keynote speaker sharing my life's amazing story which is really the American Dream Story of Humble Beginnings to having one of the most recognized BBQ Brands in almost every major grocery store in America plus every big box retailer--Walmart, Costco, Target & Sam's Club achieving BILLIONS in sales!!! and creating over 20,000 new jobs. And almost daily so many people have told me... "Dave you really need to make a movie or videos of the things you have learned!" So stay tuned sometime early next year working with Moving Tree Media... we will be releasing both videos and written white papers.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR WISCONSIN’S MILWAUKEE ACF CHAPTER OF CHEFS…here I am with Chef Joe Parajecki of Performance Food Group one of the leading culinary forces in Wisconsin and we raised a lot of money for scholarships. My talk “How I Turned My Backyard Grill Into A Restaurant Empire!” Got a rousing standing ovation and I think it’s because I shared how I overcame all the adversities as a restaurant entrepreneur to achieve uncommon success in a very tough business! I keep being asked to share my insights so I’ve asked a couple of my friends to help me document my proven success skills…. So stay tuned! “Famous Dave”

GETTIN’ HEALTHY TIME OUT! For the last 2 weeks I’ve been at the Structure House in Durham NC one of America’s best Health & Fitness Retreats where I’ve been eating healthy, working out, swimming… (although I have to admit that I did sneak out a few times to enjoy North Carolina’s legendary smokey whole hog BBQ featuriing the area's vinegary bbq sauce!) and here in this picture I am with my workout guru Randall Weiss who challenged me, stretched me like Gumby, and hurt me good…I can tell you that he sincerely believes in No Pain No Gain! Haha but today I feel totally reworked in a good way. Structure House is a wonderful tree lined campus with beautiful tree lined walking trails, 2 heated swimming pools, wonderful workout facility, and a great chef driven healthy menu dinning experience! I highly recommend Structure House for anyone looking for an opportunity to reset their health & physical fitness! “Famous Dave"

CREATIVE RELEASE... As much as I love creating great-tasting smokey barbecued ribs, brisket, and stuff, this past weekend, I had a few hours to spend in my jewelry shop or my happy place! I love cutting rough turquoise rocks and turning them into beauties. When you take a rock, it's always been amazing to me that these incredible colors... were hidden inside, just waiting to unleash stunning blue vibrant colors, were sitting in our mother earth, just waiting 40 to 60 million years to unleash their incredible beauty. I really liked my leather bracelet that features Bisbee, Red Coral, Spider Web Kingman, and real old Walrus Ivory. "Famous Dave"

SPECIAL TREAT RE-ACQUAINTING WITH NORTH DAKOTA'S GOVERNOR BOB BURGUM AND FIRST LADY KATHRYN BURGUM. Back in 1997 I was recognized as Earnst & Young's Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year for the Dakotas and Minnesota. That night I had the opporunity to meet one of America's most successful entrepreneur's Bob Burgum who founded Great Plains Software and was flying high with his recent taking Great Plains Software public back in 1997. This year Bob's wife Kathyryn celebrated her 22 years of sobriety and she has been very active in the recovery community serving on the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundations' Board of Directors. We all know Govenor Bob Bergum was a Presidential hopeful but now we know his family's driving passion for healthy sober communities!
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT WITH ROB LOWE AS MC AND BRANDI CARLILE! 11 Time Grammy Award Winner she put on quite the show. I never realized what an incredible singer she is and she had her own tough journey dealing with an alcoholic father growing up. And Rob Lowe shared his own journey of sobriety which was encouraging and inspiring especially in Hollywood!
TONIGHT'S THEME FOR ALL OF US--NEVER GIVE UP HOPE FOR LOVED ONES OR FRIENDS WHO ARE DEALING WITH ADDICTIONS... I am grateful for a family who never gave up on me and a wife who had the guts to put me into treatment. With God All Things Are Possible! Luke 1:37 "Famous Dave"