CHOCOWINITY — Take 10 hogs, 14 cases of chickens, 600 pounds of potatoes and 30 gallons of cole slaw, throw in an assortment of homemade desserts, and you have the makings of a stick-to-your-ribs, Chocowinity barbecue fundraiser.

The annual event is a longtime tradition with the Chocowinity Fire Department, according to Chief Tommy Pendley. The department sells between 1,200 and 1.400 pork barbecue, barbecued chicken and combination plates each year.

Saturday was the big day, with many hands pitching in to make light work in the staging of the meal.

Preparations began in earnest early Friday morning when Pendley and David Fields hit the road to pick up chickens and coleslaw. By Friday evening a group of firefighters and volunteers with the fire department auxiliary gathered to peel and dice potatoes and cut up chickens. The grills were fired up by 9:30 p.m. Friday and the pork cooked overnight, watched carefully through the early morning hours by a handful of loyal volunteers.

Around 6 a.m. Saturday the hogs were removed from the fires and chopping of the barbecue commenced, while potatoes bubbled in pots. Chicken parts replaced the pork on the grills as more volunteers return for duty. Donated cakes, pies, brownies and cookies were parceled out for customers wishing to chase their barbecue feast with a taste of something sweet.