Which U.S. state hosts the Big Pig Jig barbecue competition?

The U.S. state that hosts the Big Pig Jig barbecue competition is Georgia.

The event, officially called the Slosheye Trail Big Pig Jig, is held annually in Vienna, Georgia. It serves as Georgia’s state pork cook-off and combines barbecue competition with community activities, making it both a food contest and a local festival.

The Big Pig Jig began in 1982, when a group of barbecue cooks in Vienna paired a cooking competition with an arts-and-crafts fair. The first contest had 20 teams and included only a whole-hog category. Over time, the competition expanded to roughly 100 teams and added shoulder and rib categories, plus ancillary contests for sauce, stew, and chicken.

The name can cause confusion because the event’s winners have historically been invited to compete at Memphis in May, a major Tennessee barbecue event. That connection does not change the host state: the Big Pig Jig itself takes place in Georgia. The competition also includes activities such as a 5K Hog Jog and an academic quiz bowl.