There are dozens of way to raise money for schools, from car washes to magazine sales.

But probably no fundraiser can match the tradition of the annual Wauka Mountain Chicken Pie Supper.

Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy was host to its 87th Chicken Pie Supper on Saturday, drawing hundreds of residents from Hall County, as well as community leaders and candidates for local elections to a meal of chicken pie, green beans and pound cake.

The supper, which originated when Wauka Mountain was known as Brookton Elementary School, offers about 2,000 pounds of chicken plus dumplings, broth and pie crust, raising $10,000 to $15,000 for the school, organizer Kimmey Boyd said.

In addition to making the pies earlier in the week, volunteers started baking them fresh at 5 a.m. Saturday.

"There are a lot of easier-to-hold fundraisers," said Boyd's husband, Kevin, but none could replace the community tradition.

As part of that tradition, candidates for local races turned out to shake hands with potential voters waiting in line for pie.

Customers trying to enter the cafeteria run the gantlet of candidate supporters offering stickers and magnets of those running for a county commission seat or for sheriff.

"This is typical for even years," Boyd said. "It always brings a valuable new pool of people who come and eat. It's more people to raise money."

Gov. Nathan Deal and wife Sandra also were at the dinner, though neither were passing out campaign items this year.

The Deals have visited the dinner for years, including when their children went to the school - with the governor previously selling tickets. Now their grandchildren attend.

But the chicken pie that's good enough for the governor isn't necessarily appetizing to all of the volunteers.

"We don't really like it," said third-grader Owen Pitchford, who along with some other Cub Scouts passed out napkins and plastic wear to guests. Though happy to be a part of the fundraiser, Owen said he'd skip the pie.

Owen, a Wauka Mountain student, has already come to the Chicken Pie Supper for a number of years.

Perhaps if he sticks around long enough, he'll have time to acquire the taste.