FLETCHER — The smoke has cleared and a champion has been named at the 2026 Got to Be NC Whole Hog Cookoff at the N.C. Mountain State Fair. Showtime’s Legit BBQ of Benson, captained by Kevin Peterson, took home first place and the $2,000 grand prize, earning bragging rights as this year’s champion.
Grate Sauces & Rubs of Goldsboro, captained by Ralph LeGrand, finished second, earning $1,500, while Killing Time Grilling Crew of Clinton, captained by Tim Walters, took third place and $1,000.
FLETCHER – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted two longtime N.C. Mountain State Fair employees into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame. Mark Mills of Peachland and Cameron Greene of Fletcher were inducted for their decades of support to the fair and the livestock industry in Western North Carolina.
FLETCHER — Great North Carolina barbecue starts with the people who raise it, cook it and support it. From farmers raising quality pork to pitmasters tending the fire for hours, whole hog barbecue brings together agriculture, tradition and community.
The Got to Be NC Whole Hog Barbecue Cookoff, featuring 11 competitive cooking teams, returns to the N.C. Mountain State Fair Saturday, Sept. 12. The contest celebrates every part of the farm-to-table connection, and serves up some good barbecue for a good cause along the way.
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Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will officially open the 2026 N.C. Mountain State Fair with ribbon cutting ceremony. There will also be a special 9/11 remembrance.
The N.C. Mountain State Fair will offer special themed days during its 2026 run, adding to the value and experience of the fair. In addition to the daily lineup of entertainment, food, livestock shows, rides, events and more, these days bring special programs and/or admission deals to the fair, which runs Sept. 11-20 at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.
FLETCHER – New rides, new entertainment and new food are being added to the lineup of fairgoers’ favorites at the N.C. Mountain State Fair Sept. 11-20 at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.
The N.C. Mountain State Fair is still accepting competition entries, and residents in Western North Carolina can utilize the free Pony Express program to save themselves a trip to the fairgrounds in Fletcher.
The North Carolina Mountain State Fair is looking to hire certified law enforcement officers for its security team for the 2026 Fair Sept. 11-20 at the Western N.C. Ag Center in Fletcher.
Pay ranges from $35 an hour for non-sworn officers including detention officers and telecommunicators and up to $40 an hour for sworn law enforcement officers.
FLETCHER – If winning a blue ribbon is on your bucket list, now is a great time to start planning what you want to enter and get started on those entries before the Aug. 14 and Aug. 28 deadlines for the N.C. Mountain State Fair competitions.
There are 46 different categories of competitions for adults and kids, including an ice cream eating contest you can enter on Sept. 15, the day of the event.
FLETCHER – The 2026 N.C. Mountain State Fair is accepting applications for food and commercial vendors, heritage crafters, wholesale vendor suppliers and Got to Be NC members for the annual fair which runs Sept. 11-20 in Fletcher.