looking for something different in cooking classes?

• First, how can we resist Hog Butchering the Old-Fashioned Way? They're holding a hog-butchering day Saturday at Historic Brattonsville, the living history plantation outside Rock Hill. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., they'll have demonstrations of butchering, meat preservation and cooking. Local barbecuer (and former Observer writer) Dan Huntley will do a presentation on barbecue culture at history at 1 p.m., and a barbecue lunch by Gardner's Barbecue will be available starting at 11:30. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for ages 4-17 and free for children younger than 3. And before you freak out, we checked: The hog will be killed in advance. The museum is at 1444 Brattonsville Road in McConnells. Details: 803-684-2327, or www.chmuseums.org.
• McConnells, S.C., is quite the busy place for barbecue this winter: Carolina Outdoor Cooking will hold a barbecue class from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 11 at the McConnells Community Center. The class is $250 and covers Carolina-style pulled pork, Texas-style brisket, Memphis ribs and smoked chicken. Lunch and "all-day barbecue sampling" is included. Registration is required by Feb. 3. Details: www.carolinaoutdoorcooking.com.
• Proffitt Family Cattle Co. of Kings Mountain will hold a cooking class, wine tasting and farm tour from 3-6 p.m. Jan. 28. The recipes will focus on Super Bowl appetizers made with their grass-fed beef. Cost is $65. Reservations: Email hlnc@carolina.rr.com or go to www.proffittfarms.com.