When wing aficionados converged on Huntsville, Ala., for the 14th Annual “Battle of the Buffalo Wing Festival,” the grill was loaded with wings, courtesy of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. The nation’s third-largest poultry producer operates three processing facilities in North Alabama and partners with hundreds of local family farms to produce chicken bound for the nation’s restaurant, retail and foodservice markets. Wayne-Sanderson Farms donated 10,000 pounds of fresh, Alabama-grown chicken wings to support the festival, one of the city’s largest community fundraising events at Huntsville’s Big Spring Park on April 15, preceded by the annual 5K Salmon Run.
Solely supported by sponsors and donations, the annual event has become a springtime staple in Huntsville The festival included the “Tastiest Wings in the Tennessee Valley” contest, bringing thousands of locals and visitors to the heart of downtown Huntsville to enjoy wings and food, live music, games and the 5K Salmon Run, all to champion cancer research and provide support to cancer victims. This year’s estimated 4,000 attendees was an unofficial event record, said event organizers.