The 20th annual Heritage Pork Rind Festival held its inaugural pork rind eating contest on Saturday, featuring members of the Major League Eaters.

A $1,000 purse was available to the ten contestants of the "battle of titans," according to the emcee. He likened Harrod to the "Mt. Sinai of mastication" during his introductions.

Each eater was allowed eight minutes to consume as many Rudolph Foods brand pork rinds as possible. They were allowed to drink beverages during the eating, but could not dunk the pork rinds into any drink. They were, however, allowed a dipping sauce to use.

Finishing in first place with 11.32 ounces of pork rinds eaten was "Buffalo" Jim Reeves of Boston, NY. He won the top prize of $750.

Second place went to John Palmgren of Peoria, IL, with 10.01 ounces eaten. He won $200. Third place went to Steve Stone of Toledo, a walk-on contestant, who ate 8.07 ounces. His prize was $50.

Other competitors and the amount eaten included: Craig Reed, Ferndale, MI, 7.01 oz.; "Wild" Bill Myers, Breinigsville, PA, 6.35 oz.; Mike Nelson, Lafayette, OH, 6.06 oz.; Christopher Poppe, Wapakoneta, OH, 5.57 oz.; Scott Ferentzi, Lima, OH, 5.46 oz.; Craig Decker, Ada, OH 5.39 oz.; Mark "The Hambone" Singleton, Dallas, TX (Rudolph Food's VP of Sales and Marketing), 4.79 oz.