5th Annual Masonic Pig Jig – May 22nd, 2010
On Saturday, May 22nd at 11:00 AM the Annual North Carolina Masonic Pig Jig Cook Off will take place at the Gotta Be NC Festival. This is the 5th annual Pig Jig to be held at the North Carolina Fair Grounds. The competition is a chance for 30 plus Masonic lodges across North Carolina to battle it out to see who’s Pork BBQ is the best. All proceeds from the event benefit Masonic charities including the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. Tickets are $10 for adults, children under 12 are free of charge. The event kicks off at 11:00 AM and runs until 3:00 PM. BBQ enthusiasts will have the chance to cast their votes for Peoples Choice award.
Each year a Masonic lodge from North Carolina is crowned the “Carolina Pig Jig Grand Champion.” In 2009 Prince Hall District #27 Lodge led by Brent Gerald, Nate Degraffinreaidt, and Milton Gerald won this great honor, and full bragging rights of having the best BBQ of any Masonic lodge in North Carolina. Each team is judged by an all-star panel of guest judges including John Castleberry, Sheriff Donnie Harrison, EMS Chief Skip Kirkwood, Ann Edmundson of the NC Pork Council, Ken Richards of the Florida BBQ Society, Ken Smith of WRAL in 2009.
All proceeds from the annual BBQ event are donated to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. The Children’s Home is a non-profit residential home, located in Oxford, North Carolina, which exists to care for disadvantaged and neglected children. The home survives and the children are cared for through charity of others. All monies raised through the BBQ event are donated the Children’s Home to purchase supplies and aid in paying operating expenses of the home.
Tom Price, one of the Pit Masters of Hiram Masonic Lodge #40 in Raleigh, North Carolina, says, “Hiram 40 looks forward to participating in the Pig Jig again this year. We have a grudge to settle, we missed the Peoples Choice award by 10 tickets. This year, we want to take it all.” According to Price, “Competition is fierce, but we have a lot of fun with the other lodges and all the great people that come out to support this great event.”
