The Roanoke-Chowan Pork-Fest was established due to a need for an elevator for The Jefcoat Museum of Americana. The Board of Directors brainstormed to plan a way to raise money to purchase an elevator. Wayne Futrell suggested that we have a barbeque cook-off. So after some long hours of planning, the newly established Pork-Fest Committee was ready for the first Roanoke-Chowan Pork-Fest which was held on April 12, 2002.
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.
Additional activities include antique automobiles, classic cars, and craft vendors. This year, we are planning to have an art exhibit. We also have live musical entertainment all day.
A special event for sponsors who contribute $100.00 or more is called the Sponsors’ Choice Judging. Sponsors get to taste a sample of every cooker’s barbeque, chopped and seasoned their own way. The sponsor judges each sample and records his/her opinion on a ballot. The winner of this event is awarded a plaque.
The big event of the day is the “All you can Eat” Barbeque lunch that is served at each Pork-Fest. Everyone looks forward to this and gets to eat his or her fill of the best Eastern N.C. Barbeque.