Hog Happnin’ Shelby, NC
Comments Off on Hog Happnin’ Shelby, NCby Stephanie West, “The Neck” Pitmaster with 270 SMOKERS
Fifty-six pro BBQ teams arrived in Shelby for the 25th Annual (and final…) Hog Happnin’. That’s right, Jerry & Joyce have decided to go out on a high note, while the Hog Happnin’ event has emerged to be one of North Carolina (and MABA-land) favorites! This year’s event was a true celebration of their team’s tremendous work to raise over $250,000 for the local children’s home charity. (Please note, if you’d like to purchase a commemorative item, contact the Hog Happnin’ organization thru their Facebook page – they recently published a cookbook ($12) and also have sweatshirts, pins, hats, etc. – all proceeds go to the children’s home.)
One of the more popular activities during Hog Happnin’ is the Simply Samplin’ competition where participating teams engage with the judges on Friday evening for on-site judging of their desserts, gumbo/stew, seafood, pizza, vegetables, and meat. Whew! This year, the crowd favorite proved to be 7-year old Kenzie Fink of team House of Smoke who captured 1st Place in Dessert with her Salted Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecakes! She is now completely hooked on competitive cooking and will surely become a staple on the ancillary circuit!
Grand Champion: Rocky Top Barbecue
Reserve GC: Sauced! Barbecue Team (who also won People’s Choice Pork!)
1st Place Chicken: Wolf’s Revenge
1st Place Ribs: Rocky Top Barbeque
1st Place Pork: Smoking Butt Heads
1st Place Brisket: Sauced! Barbecue Team
Click here for the full results from Shelby!