AHOSKIE – Barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-q, BBQ: there are almost as many ways of spelling it as there different flavors of pork.

However, here in Eastern North Carolina, it is the whole hog, roasting slowly over a low, smoky flame that makes that style of pork the best in the world…..at least in the opinion of those residing in the flatlands of the Tar Heel State.

For the last six years during the annual Ahoskie Heritage Day Festival, patrons of that event have enjoyed  the opportunity to taste the best of the best, whole hog BBQ, cooked right here in Ahoskie.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Ahoskie Public Library’s 7th annual Backyard BBQ Cook-off will host down home chefs of swine and award winning BBQ cooking teams alike to compete for the first place trophy and prize money of $1,000.

Beginning on Friday night, Sept. 12, the pig cookers will be fired up and the aroma of slow roasted pork will begin to hover over the grounds of the Ahoskie Recreation Complex.  The teams will cook all night Friday. On Saturday morning, as the smoke from over 2,000 pounds of pork greets festival goes, North Carolina Pork Council Judges will sample and judge the efforts of some of the best BBQ cooks in the state.

Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the top three teams and one team will be awarded the Showmanship prize and trophy. All of the succulent pork will then be turned in to BBQ sandwiches, BBQ plates and bulk BBQ to sell to hungry festival goers to raise money for the Ahoskie Public Library Building Fund.

BBQ sandwiches and BBQ plates will be available from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Plates will include stewed potatoes, slaw and hushpuppies.  BBQ by the pound will also be available, while it lasts. Plates and bulk BBQ is priced at $10; sandwiches are $3.50 each or two for $6.

Tickets are on sale now at the Ahoskie Public Library, Second Editions Used Books or from any Ahoskie Library Trustee.  If you are interested in being a sponsor of the event, if you are a team interested in cooking, need to buy tickets, or would like to volunteer to help, contact the Ahoskie Public Library at 252 332-5500.

Each year this event brings Ahoskie Library officials closer to the new library Ahoskie and the surrounding area so desperately needs and deserves.  The Ahoskie Public Library Backyard BBQ Cook-off is the largest fundraising event the Ahoskie Public Library Board of Trustees sponsors.  It is a North Carolina Pork Council sanctioned event.

For more information on this event, or the Ahoskie Public Library Building Fund, contact Cindy Henderson, Branch Manager, Ahoskie Public Library at 252 332-5500.