The first year we had ten cooking teams. Bruce Daniels of Roanoke Rapids won our first event. The second year, Joe Peterson of Roanoke Rapids won our event and went on to win the State Cook-Off, which is sponsored by the North Carolina Pork Council. The winner in 2004 was Charlie Meeks of Newport, NC; Leslie Deaton of Roanoke Rapids won in 2005. Each year, participants at our Cook-Off, have placed in the top 10 in the state finals. The first five winners of our cook-off receive prizes from $500-$100, respectively.
Any cooking team, who chooses, can enter a Showmanship Judging. The teams decorate their cooking sites in a pigs and barbeque décor for judging. First and second place winners receive $100 and $50, respectively. We have grown from 10 cooking teams, the first year, to 17 teams for the 2006 Pork-Fest.