Waynesboro will be the first stop in the Swine Soiree – the first ever triple-crown for Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned events in Georgia-Carolina.

For teams on the hunt for the $6,000 purse, the May 7-8 Boss Hog State Championship Cook-off in Waynesboro is the first of three sanctioned competitions.

Next comes Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que, May 28-29, at the Hippodrome in North Augusta, S.C., followed by the Festival of Discovery, July 8-10, in Greenwood, S.C. The latter event will be featured this Sunday at 8 p.m., on the Food Networks’ premier of the Great American BBQ Showdown.

The episode will also feature Chatham Artillery BBQ of out Savannah and Bub-ba-Que of Jasper – both top contenders in last year’s Boss Hog.

According to organizers, the Swine Soiree’s prize money will be paid out to the top-three teams, based on cumulative points scored in the chicken, ribs, pork and brisket competitions of all three events.

The entry fee is $25, and the winner takes home $3,000 cash.

Between the three events and the triple-crown, teams will be competing for more than $60,000.

THE BOSS

Applications for the Boss Hog Cook-off went online Friday, and already five of the 36 spots have been claimed. To compete, download an application at www.bosshogcookoff.com. Swine Soiree applications will be available later this week.