AHOSKIE – Do you have “squeal appeal”?

Are you a “prince of pork”?

Are the ingredients to your secret sauce locked in your brain or scribbled on a wrinkled piece of paper?

If you answered yes to any of the aforementioned questions, then perhaps you should consider entering the Backyard BBQ Cook-off scheduled for the 2012 Ahoskie Heritage Day Festival. Winning teams will receive trophies and cash prizes.

For the fifth consecutive year, Harriett and Trey Byrum of Ahoskie will orchestrate this popular event, one that takes place on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Ahoskie Creek Recreational Complex.

Those entered will fire up their trusty grills at 7 a.m. Judging begins at 3 p.m. after which all that grilled pork will be finely chopped, seasoned to perfection and served during a BBQ dinner served at the festival between the hours of 5-7:30 p.m.

Meal tickets will be sold in advance for $8 each. Those purchasing a ticket on the day of the event will pay $10 per plate.

To register to cook or to purchase an advance ticket to the meal, contact the Byrums at 209-1686 or the Ahoskie Public Library at 332-5500. All proceeds from the Backyard BBQ Cook-off benefit the Ahoskie Library.

Additionally, minced pork barbecue sandwiches will be sold at the Saturday’s portion of the Heritage Day Festival from 12 noon until 4 p.m. Sandwiches are $3 each or two for $5.

Sponsors are also being sought to help offset the costs associated with staging the Backyard BBQ Cook-off. Those sponsors will receive two complimentary tickets for the barbecue dinner for each $100 donated; a sponsorship sign at the cooking team site; and all sponsors and co-sponsors of cooking teams will be listed on the sponsor board.

Cash prize sponsors can present the check and trophy to the winning team during the awards ceremony. They will also receive a sample of their barbecue to take home.

Sponsorships are tax deductable.

Those who cannot become one of the corporate sponsors are asked to consider a small donation the Ahoskie Library’s Building Fund. Make checks payable to the Ahoskie Public Library Building Fund and mail to the Ahoskie Public Library, 210 East Church Street, Ahoskie, NC 27910.