28th annual Pig Pickin’ a success

The Delta State University Alumni Association held the 28th annual Pig Pickin’ last weekend at Statesmen Park. With a large crowd of alumni, friends, students, and prospective students, the event was another success.

Over 1,300 people came through the serving lines and had a plate of their choice of pulled pork or BBQ chicken along with either Cajun or original sausage provided by Polk’s Meats from Magee, Miss.

The BBQ was prepared by a group of volunteers including Tom Janoush, Jay Burchfield, Jamie van Vulpen, Eddie Vaughn, David Griffith, Milan Killebrew, and many others.

The event would not have been possible without the help of all the volunteers and event sponsors, including Polk’s Meat, who has sponsored the event for the past eight years. Sponsors were treated to the Polk’s Sponsors Social the Friday night before Pig Pickin’.

This year’s Sponsor’s include: Wal-Mart, Bolivar Medical Center, Cleveland Medical Clinic, PLLC and Wright Surgical Services, Casey Family Programs, Air Evac Lifeteam, State Farm Agent-Patrick Davis, Faurecia Automotive Seating, Regions Bank, Aramark, Jammin’ 104, AM 1490 WCLD, Power 106.5, 96.5 WKDJ, Majic 107.5, Boyle Lumber, Mississippi Tennis Association, WABG, Needle Specialty Products, Pafford Medical Services, Lampard’s, Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility, Vowells Marketplace, Cleveland Trophy, Barnes & Noble, Robinson Electric, Nehi Bottling Company, Fat Baby’s Catfish House, Delta OB/GYN, Huddle House-F & H Ventures, Abrahams, Sonic Drive In, Bolivar Urology Clinic, PA, Mississippi Land Bank, Renasant Bank, Baxter Healthcare, Shelby Air Service, The Image Specialist, Denton Dairy Products, The Sweetery, Kossman’s Inc., Peter’s Pottery, Guaranty Bank, The Cleveland Current, Walgreens, Planters Bank & Trust, H Squared, Backdraft, Western Sizzlin, Bolivar Commercial, Lost Pizza Company, Cleveland State Bank, Meador & Crump, Locals, Civil Solutions, Byrd Service Station, and Rogers Entomological Services.

A group of 22 cook teams competed in this year’s competition. The winners included the following.

Best Sauce
3rd – Barn Rub’s BBQ
2nd – Kindom Foods
1st – Tag Team

Best Beans
3rd – Kindom Foods
2nd – Barn Rub’s BBQ
1st – Hoggie Style

Sausage Anyway
3rd – Delta Boys Smokers
2nd – Pecan Bayou Smokers
1st – Ubon’s

Best Chicken
3rd – Deliverance Smokers
2nd – Ubon’s
1st – Some Pig

Best Ribs
3rd – Tag Team Smokers
2nd – Riverside Smokers
1st – Big Daddy Woo Woo’s BBQ

Best Pork
3rd – Some Pig
2nd – Smokehouse Posse
1st – Fat Side Up

The Grand Champions were Big Daddy Woo Woo’s BBQ.

Many other events were also taking place on campus in conjunction with Pig Pickin’ including DSU Day, hosted by the Office of Admissions. Over 250 prospective students and parents participated in DSU Day before heading over to Statesmen Park to enjoy the Pig Pickin’ festivities.

Other activities included the Delta State Alumni Co-Ed Cheerleading Reunion, the Delta Down and Dirty Youth Obstacle and Challenge Run, and the Mississippi Tennis Association, which was on campus with their Sport Court to promote youth tennis. Different areas of Delta State were also present including the Student Success Center, the Dedicated Statesmen Association, Library Services, Graduate and Continuing Education, and Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

The various Pig Pickin’ events led up to the showdown between Delta State and Florida Institute of Technology, which resulted in a 52-31 win for the Statesmen.

Pig Pickin’ t-shirts are still on sale at the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni-Foundation House. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 662-846-4660. To stay up to date on the Alumni Association’s activities, follow these social media sites: Facebook (Statesmen Graduates), Twitter (@DSU_Alumni), Tumblr (www.dsualumni.tumblr.com), LinkedIn (DSU alumni) and You Tube (dsualumni1).