VIENNA, Ga. — On Friday, some grill masters will make their final preparations to compete in Vienna's Big Pig Jig.
The Barbeque competition has a big reputation and Amanda O'Neil-Neisent shared with us some stuff that you may not know about the premiere competition.
“We are one of the biggies,” she bragged. "When you say Big Pig Jig in the barbeque world, people know what you're talking about."
O'Neil-Neisent worked in and promoted Barbeque City for 15 years. It's the backdrop for The Big Pig Jig that began in 1982.
“The first year they had 18 teams that cooked, gave away $1000 in prize money, decided they had such a good time they wanted to do it again," she said with a grin.
Big names on the circuit come down to participate, descending on a facility that is used just a couple of times a year in Dooly County.
“It's just a bunch of trailers, a bunch of tents," O'Neil-Neisent said. "What makes us unique and cool is that we are actually a city. We are Barbeque City USA and all of our roads have street names."
You might squeal with excitement to get an address on a row of timber.
Spots are for sale and run anywhere from $500 to $1500.
“Some of them are super nicer and some of them you could live in and then others are lean to's that they use just for this event,” she described.
Space doesn't matter much but taste is king for this weekend every fall.
Some teams have embraced technology. Others do it the way they did it in the 80s with humble tools like a mop to baste the meat.
“We have a little bit of old school and a little bit of new school," she said.
This year, they have $17,000 in prize money on the line, so a few people will school the competition.
But folks don't just live high on the hog with that. They pig out on the fame.
“It's not about the money or prizes at the event," O'Neil-Neisent said. "It's about walking our stage. That's a big deal in the barbeque world — to tell people they've walked the stage at the Big Pig Jig.”
Now it is free to walk around Barbeque City Saturday and watch the competitors sweat it out.
They now have a Taste of the Jig where you can get a free sample with the opportunity to buy more. That happens at two in the afternoon.
But if you stay under the lights that evening, it will cost you $10 to hear the live music.