The Newport Pig Cookin' got it's start in 1978 when Doris Oglesby, the Director of the
Newport Developmental Center, called Mayor Derryl Garner to help her raise funds for furniture
for a new wing she was adding on to her school for handicapped children.
Mayor Garner contacted 18 various churches and organizations that were in the Newport area
at that time requesting their ideas to raise this money.
As luck would have it, some Newport fellows had cooked in a pig cooking contest that previous
weekend in Jacksonville, NC.
Out of that group, Larry Howard and Lionel Garner contacted Mayor Garner with the thought that Newport
could have a contest too. It was decided to try it with the goal of cooking 15 pigs to
raise the needed $5,000 needed.
The contest was held in early 1979 and with the help of just about everybody in town plus our good neighbors
at the Marine Corps Air Station, 42 pigs were cooked and $15,000 was donated to the Developmental Center.
Larry Howard was the first person in charge of the Newport Pig Cookin' with Thorton Pringle, Ann Howard and
Jim Ferrell heading it up consecutively.
In 1985 we were incorporated with Jim Ferrell as President. The organization has grown over the years
and now has it's own building filled with warmers, pots and pans, etc., along with a
ticket booth, canteens and a souvenir trailer with a lot of it donated by various businesses and groups.
Our pig cookin has evolved into the "Largest Whole Hog" contest in the country and probably one of
the best organized.
We have donated almost $700,000 to the community. Recipients include various sports
teams, school booster groups, churches, scout groups etc. in the area. None of this could been accomplished
without the dedication and support from the volunteers. We are a strictly volunteer organization, no one receives a salary.
We are all proud of the history of the Newport Pig Cookin' and look forward to our 32nd year celebration. Come out
and show your support.
Necaise Insurance Agency
Joe Brewer Meat Products Inc.
