Hogs for the Cause 2020

BBQGuys is proud to be a sponsor of Hogs for the Cause BBQGuys is proud to be a sponsor of Hogs for the Cause

What is Hogs for the Cause?

Hogs for the Cause (“Hogs”) is a New Orleans based non-profit that provides financial assistance to families across the country with children undergoing treatment for brain cancer. In addition to focusing on pediatric brain cancer, Hogs forms strategic partnerships with hospitals nationwide to aid families with children diagnosed with ailments other than brain cancer. Hogs currently operates as one of the premier sources of funding for pediatric brain cancer outreach services.

  • hogs for the cause 2020 poster
  • About Hogs for the Cause

    Hogs is a two-day fundraising event at the Uno Lakefront in New Orleans on March 27 through March 28, 2020. The event is driven by a friendly, but very competitive, BBQ competition that attracts more than 90 fundraising teams from all over the country. The competition is similar to most nationally recognized BBQ competitions, which is why some of the most notable american pitmasters participate. Unlike other BBQ competitions, each team is expected to sell their food to the 30,000 plus attendees to help raise money for the cause. In addition to selling food, teams participate in the hotly contested Ben Sarrat Jr. cookoff that focuses on four main categories, ribs, shoulder/butt, whole hog and porkpourri (anything pork-centric). The winner is crowned the Grand Champion and is awarded the highly coveted brass pig trophy. Previous winners have ranged from restaurants, to world renowned pitmasters, to amateurs.

    Food and Music: Match Made in Hog Heaven

    In addition to the cookoff, another major draw to the festival is the music. Hogs has been extremely successful in booking many up and comers throughout the years from the southern rock, bluegrass, country and americana genres. These bands entertain on three separate sponsored stages throughout the festival.

    Some of the musical acts playing this year include: Old Crow Medicine Show, Robert Randolph and the Family Band ft The Soul Rebels and Brandom "Taz" Niederauer, Yola, and many more!

  • hogs for the cause 2020 poster
  • Hogs for the cause cookoff contestants basting ribs
  • The Fundraisers

    One of the key components for participating teams at Hogs is fundraising. Each team is expected to raise money for the cause, through a multitude of channels. Each team is unique, and their fundraising methodologies vary greatly. Most teams fund raise all year long, both locally and nationally. Teams range in size from ten to fifty members, and many teams have their own sponsors and their own non-profit designations. The 2019 event was a record breaking year for team fundraising, with teams accounting for over $2 million raised for the cause.

The Beneficiaries

The History

In 2009, Becker Hall and Rene Louapre invited a group of friends to a pig roast out at the Fly behind Audubon Zoo to raise money for a boy named Ben Sarrat, Jr. Lil’ Ben had been diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer. Roughly 200 people showed up at the levee that day to watch a pig turn slowly on a spit and to raise money to help Ben’s family. Today, Hogs for the Cause has emerged as one of the largest barbeque competitions and music festivals in the country. New Orleans welcomes over 90 local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in numerous categories. Its charitable purpose remains the same: helping families fighting pediatric brain cancer.


“By providing a place to stay for families who need it, when they need it, the Hogs House is an extension of our healing environment, it is a place of rest and respite for families whose children are fighting critical illnesses.”

—John R. Nickens, IV, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital


Event Page

Visit the Facebook event page to buy tickets, learn more about the event, and be reminded so you don't miss it!