On Saturday, October 24th, the BFS team, friends, and family gathered on a perfect fall day for our 36th Annual Pig Pickin’! This cherished tradition is always one of the highlights of our year; a time to slow down, enjoy one another’s company and celebrate.
So many of the BFS’ kids attended this year and had a blast burning off energy in the bounce house and getting creative at the face painting station. To top it off, an ice cream truck made an appearance that was hit with kids and adults alike!
Honoring Our Heritage
With 2026 marking BFS’s 80th Anniversary, this year’s gathering carried an extra layer of pride:
- T-Shirts History on Display: We proudly displayed a t-shirt quilt featuring designs spanning back to the early 1990s.
- 80th Anniversary Commemorative Shirt: Alexa Garbarino designed this year’s event t-shirt, which combined our 80-year milestone with a nod to the Carolina Hurricanes’ iconic Stanley Cup Championship!
- 80-Year History Collage: Dan Weldon put his tech skills to work, using AI to generate a historical collage highlighting the 80 year journey of BFS.
- A Toast to Legacy: The entire BFS family came together for a special group toast in memory and honor of Bob Garbarino, Sr., remembering the strong foundation he built for us all.
Celebrating Our Team’s Dedication
Our annual Pig Pickin’ is also when we recognize the hard work and loyalty of our incredible team members. This year, we were honored to celebrate five key service milestones:
- 5 Years: Cody Hodnett
- 10 Years: Amber Frances & Chuck Wiggins
- 20 Years: Mike Monville
- 30 Years: Diane Frances
Thank you to Cody, Amber, Chuck, Mike, and Diane for your dedication, expertise, and years of hard work. You are a huge part of what makes BFS feel like family!
A huge thanks to everyone who helped organize the event, cooked, set up, and came out to celebrate with us. Here’s to 80 years of excellence and 36 years of great Pig Pickin’ memories!
