Food news roundup: Want to be a hot dog?

• Here's a title that will make your mama proud: N.C. Hot Dog Eating Champion. The qualifying round for the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, televised on ESPN, will be held at 1 p.m. June 18 at the Concord Mills Food Court, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd. You have to be 18 or older to sign up here.
• Lakeshore Elementary School in Mooresville is in the Top 10 nationally in a contest to win a Farm to School program or a school garden through Annie's Root 4 Kids. Parents, family members, teachers and administrators sign up to commit to helping kids eat or grow more vegetables. The school with the most sign-ups wins. To help, go here.
• If you're free Saturday, you need to drive up to the 10th annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival in Elkin and get a taste of what N.C. wineries are all about. Tickets are $20 at the gate in Elkin Memorial Park . (Active-duty and retired military personnel with identification get in for $16 to mark Armed Forces Day.) The festival runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and includes wine samples, food for local caterers, craft vendors and live music. Details are here.
• Get ready to celebrate local food in Gaston County from 5-8 p.m. May 24 (that would be next Tuesday) at Home Grown Gaston Local Food Festival, 410 E. Long Ave. There will be appetizers, entrees and desserts from five local restaurants, local beer and wine and exhibits on local food. Proceeds raise money for the Interagency Child Abuse Prevention Council. Tickets are $35 and have to be bought in advance. You can get them Saturday at the Gastonia Farmers Market on Long Avenue, or at Bogle, Anthony & Leach, 223 W. Main Ave., or the Gastonia Cooperative Extension Office, 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Highway in Dallas.