03/24/2026
Meet Tj Jacobs — Team March of the Pigs (since 2012)
I’m from Southeast Indiana. Outside of Hogs For The Cause, I stay busy with work, traveling, and spending time at Norris Lake.
I’m one of the original members of Team MOP. I don’t remember every detail of how it started, but I’ll never forget the setting—Andrew Shuford, Wesley White, and I were at Norris Lake when Andrew told us about this BBQ festival in New Orleans. At the time, it just sounded like a fun trip. I had no idea it would turn into something that would have such a lasting impact on my life.
I didn’t have a personal connection to pediatric cancer when I first joined—and honestly, I didn’t fully understand what families were going through. It’s hard to grasp until you see it up close. Over time, through Hogs for the Cause, I’ve learned how much these families deal with—emotionally, financially, and physically. Long hospital stays, time away from work, travel for treatment, and trying to hold everything together while your child is fighting for their life.
That changed the first time I got to give a grant. That was the moment it really hit me what we do as a team.
One story that has always stuck with me was a family we helped at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville. They were from Virginia and making a 4-hour drive each way just to see their child because they couldn’t afford a hotel. Part of their grant helped them stay closer so they could spend more time together. That’s when it becomes real—it’s not just numbers, it’s real families.
In 2024, I was honored to be inducted into the Hogs for the Cause Hog of Fame. That recognition means a lot—not because of any one thing I’ve done, but because of what it represents. It reflects years of showing up and being part of something bigger than myself. When I look at that group, it’s people who have dedicated so much to this cause, and to be included is humbling.
I keep coming back because of the impact—helping families, building Hogs Houses, and partnering with hospitals. But it’s also the people. There are friends I only see one week a year in New Orleans, and that week means a lot. Like Jason Sudeikis said, “To do something that you love with people you love, to help people you may never meet—I wish it on everyone.”
My role is logistics and construction. Once I’m in New Orleans, I help make sure everything is built and ready for our plot—coordinating materials, managing the build, and solving problems as they come up.
What people don’t see is the months of planning behind it. It takes a huge effort—the NOLA crew, the TN crew, and a lot of moving parts coming together in a short time.
Once on site, it’s fast-paced and there’s always something to handle. And even after our setup is done, I’m usually helping the Hogs for the Cause organization wherever needed.
At the end of the day, it shows how much people are willing to give for this cause. Long days, late nights—no one is doing it for recognition. When you step back, it’s incredible what a group can accomplish together.
What I’m most proud of is not just how much we’ve grown, but how we’ve grown together. We started with 14 people and 6 cooks—I was one of them—and have built this into a team of 50+ members. It’s not just about numbers, it’s about relationships, commitment, and consistency.
We’ve gone from figuring it out as we went to a team that can take this on year after year. Seeing new people buy into the mission while still having original members involved says a lot about what this team means.
It’s been a fun ride, but more importantly, a meaningful one. Being part of something that has raised over $1,000,000 for families in need—and continues to grow—that’s what I’m most proud of.
If you’re on the fence about donating or getting involved—come to Hogs once. It’s a bucket list experience. Nearly 100 teams build a city in a field for two days, all for an incredible cause.
https://hogsforthecause.rallybound.org/2026/TJCaraJacobs
