Country Ham Champions Crowned as Historic Competition Returns to N.C. State Fair

RALEIGH, NC — After a 27-year hiatus, the N.C. State Fair Country Ham Competition made a triumphant return on Thursday, Oct. 15, crowning top commercial and amateur curers from across North Carolina and beyond.

Presented by the North Carolina Farm Bureau, the competition celebrated the salt, smoke, and craftsmanship behind one of the Tar Heel State’s most cherished culinary traditions.

“Country ham is more than something we put on a biscuit. It’s a part of our agricultural history and the memories we make around the table,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “For generations, North Carolina families have perfected the art of curing ham, and this competition celebrates the hard work, patience and pride that go into every one. It’s exciting to bring this tradition back to the State Fair after 27 years to recognize the people who keep this important part of our heritage alive.”

Boone’s own Tony Snow of Goodnight Brothers Country Ham emerged as the standout performer of the competition, sweeping multiple top honors including National and Got to Be NC Grand Champion for Unsmoked Whole Ham, Got to Be NC Grand Champion for Smoked Whole Ham, Grand Champion for Cut Ham, and the prestigious Commissioner’s Choice Award.

2026 N.C. State Fair Country Ham Competition Winners

Commercial Division

• Unsmoked Whole Ham:

  • National & Got to Be NC Grand Champion: Tony Snow, Goodnight Brothers Country Ham (Boone, NC)

  • Second Place: Brandon Pierce, Nahunta Pork Center (Pikeville, NC)

  • Third Place (Tie): Sam Suchoff, Lady Edison Pork (Chapel Hill, NC) and John & Blake Penn, Penn Country Hams (Campbellsville, KY)

• Smoked Whole Ham:

  • National Grand Champion: Broadbent Country Hams (Kuttawa, KY)

  • Got to Be NC Grand Champion: Tony Snow, Goodnight Brothers Country Ham (Boone, NC)

  • Second Place: Tony Snow, Goodnight Brothers Country Ham (Boone, NC)

  • Third Place: Tripp Country Hams (Brownsville, TN)

• 

  Cut Ham:

  • National & Got to Be NC Grand Champion: Tony Snow, Goodnight Brothers Country Ham (Boone, NC)

  • Second Place: Broadbent Country Hams (Kuttawa, KY)

  • Third Place: John & Blake Penn, Penn Country Hams (Campbellsville, KY)

Amateur Division

• Whole Ham Champion: Andy Parks (Kannapolis, NC)

Commissioner’s Choice

• Winner: Tony Snow, Goodnight Brothers Country Ham (Boone, NC)

Celebrating Heritage at the Fairgrounds

“Making a great country ham takes time, knowledge and a real respect for the process,” said Sam Suchoff, president of the National Country Ham Association. “The producers competing here represent a tradition that has been handed down for generations, but they’re also helping shape its future.”

The contest is part of a larger country ham showcase at this year’s state fair, which features a new Ham House, live demonstrations in Heritage Circle, Country Ham Restaurant Week, and the Country Ham Trail.

Fairgoers can view the winning entries on display in the Got to Be NC Pavilion inside Dorton Arena. Following the fair, all commercial whole ham entries will be donated to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com  | Jones Media Partners LLC

No content from this publication may be reproduced, republished, or used for commercial purposes without prior written authorization from Jones Media Partners LLC. For questions or comments call 910.898.2770 or you can reach out via our Contact Page.