Lincoln County Family Connection is looking for churches to compete in a county-wide cook off, held in conjunction with the first-ever Clark's Hill Outdoor Expo.

The winning church will earn bragging rights for the best barbecue in Lincoln County.

The expo is set for Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the American Legion Fairgrounds off of the Augusta Highway.

The rules for the cook off are as follows:

.. All cooking must be done on site — no pre-cooked meat will be allowed in the contest.

.. Competitors will be permitted to set up on Friday, May 29, after 2 p.m. at the legion. Judging is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

.. Individuals who operate restaurants will not be allowed to enter the competition.

.. Judging will occur in the follow- ing categories: hash, sauce, chipped pork, ribs, chicken wings, and "other."

.. There is a $10 fee per category entered, with 100-percent payback in cash, prizes, and of course, bragging rights.

Moreover, contestants are also required to purchase vendor space. The cost is $35 for a 10' x 10' area and $50 for a 10' x 20' space.

.. The deadline to enter the cook off is Tuesday, May 19. Registration forms are available at various businesses around town (State Farm Insurance, The Lincoln Journal, etc.) and at the Family Connection office at 115 Main Street.

The completed applications may be mailed to Family Connection, P.O. Box 729, Lincolnton, Georgia, 30817, or hand delivered to the office.

In addition to the cook off, the expo will include:

.. Exhibitions featuring campers, motor homes, tractors, farming equipment, four-wheelers, jet skis, and boats.

.. Arts and crafts, such as handcrafted dulcimers, platter art, wreaths, jewelry, hats, birdhouses, collegiate items, and car tags.

.. Food such as homemade ice cream, chopped barbecue and hash, funnel cakes, and fried Oreos.

.. A visit from professional angler and outdoorsman J. Todd Tucker.

.. An open car, truck, and motorcycle show. The top 20 will be recognized.

The proceeds from the expo will go toward the Lincoln County Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy.

Regardless of income, each child registered with the foundation receives a book every month in the mail until his fifth birthday. If a child is registered at birth, he may possible amass up to 60 free books for his personal library.

The program also offers parents materials that deal with the importance of reading to their child as well as monthly tips on how to maximize the educational potential of the books.

The annual cost of the program is approximately $20,000. The initiative is funded by $5,000 from the Lincoln County Board of Education and monies raised by Family Connection.

Admission to the expo is $1.

For more information, contact Nancy Blount, executive director of Lincoln County Family Connection, at 706-359-5769 or Doug Newman at 706-359-1760.