FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2009

Got to Be NC Festival’s barbecue, tractor
and bluegrass competition winners announced

RALEIGH — More than 85,000 people enjoyed the Got to Be NC Festival, held May 29-31 at the State Fairgrounds, and its variety of North Carolina agricultural products, antique farm equipment, carnival rides, live music and more.

The festival, presented by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Kerr Drugs, also featured the N.C. Food and Wine Expo, a draft horse pull, classic car show, lawnmower racing, tractor pull and Harley-Davidson motorcycle show.

“We were so happy to have the overwhelming support of the public in attendance,” said Jim Knight, festival manager. “It was a great showcase of North Carolina’s agricultural bounty, and we plan to announce the 2010 festival dates soon.”

Several competitions were held during the free three-day event, including the Carolina Pig Jig, bluegrass competition and antique tractors showcase.

At the Carolina Pig Jig barbecue competition, more than 1,500 people sampled all-you-can-eat barbecue by 15 teams from the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.

This year’s Pig Jig was the largest fundraising collaboration in the history of the two Masonic organizations, raising $8,000 for the Central Children’s Home and Masonic Homes for Children of Oxford. The grand champion received the Pig Jig Cup, which will travel back to the winner’s lodge until next year’s competition. The winners are:

• Grand champion: Prince Hall, District #27, of Greensboro
• Second place: Pierce Hall, Lodge #606, of Catawba
• Third place: Lodge #598 of Stony Point
• Team spirit: William T. Bain, Lodge #231, of Raleigh
• People’s choice award, determined by the public: Salem, Lodge #289, of Winston-Salem

Amateur bluegrass bands from across the state picked and fiddled for top honors in the festival’s bluegrass competition. Prizes went to the top three bands:

• First place: Buttermilk Creek of Elon
• Second place: Sourwood Mountain of Franklinton
• Third place: Blue Lightning of Burlington

More than 1,000 pieces of antique tractors and equipment also competed in a variety of categories:

• Best of Show, Original Condition: Ken and Patti Eder of Carthage, 1913 Case
• Best of Show, Prior to 1930: Larry McDowell of Denton, 1920 Moline Universal Model D
• Best of Show, 1930-49: Eric Hutchison of Cleveland, 1939 John Deere Model A
• Best of Show, 1950-60: Howard Wall of Ararat, 1955 300 Farmall IH
• Best of Show, Overall: Larry Elkins of Chapel Hill, 1959 Farmall 560 LP

For more information on the festival, visit www.ncagfest.com.

-kwj-