Put your hams to the test at this year’s N.C. State Fair as the country ham competition returns in a big way on Thursday, Oct.15, in Dorton Arena. Registration is now open through Sept. 15 for commercial and amateur divisions. There is a $10 entry fee for this competition.
“Traditional country ham has deep roots in North Carolina and is often associated with fond memories of home and family,” said State Fair Director Kent Yelverton. “We are excited about the return of this competition to the N.C. State Fair and appreciate the support of the National Country Ham Association, N.C. State University and Goodnight Brothers Country Ham.”
The Commercial Division is open for exhibitors who are actively involved in larger scale production of country hams with federally or state-inspected facilities located in the United States. The Amateur Division is for non-commercial exhibitors who reside in North Carolina.
Judging categories include unsmoked whole ham, smoked whole ham and cut ham in the Commercial Division and whole ham in the amateur division. Awards include the Got to Be NC Champion for the highest scoring North Carolina ham and the National Grand Champion for the highest scoring country ham from any state. A Commissioner’s Choice award will be given to the commissioner’s favorite North Carolina-produced cut ham entry.
Country hams will be dropped off for judging Thursday, Oct. 15, from 8 to 11 a.m. Judging will take place in Dorton Arena from 1 to 4 p.m. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Cooking demos will follow featuring country ham. The 5 p.m. cooking demonstration will focus on the history of country ham and how to salt them down for curing. The 7 p.m. cooking demonstration will feature modern recipes using country ham.
Winning hams will be on display in the Got to Be NC Pavillion in Dorton Arena during the fair and all commercial whole hams will be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Visit the Heritage Circle Ham House
Fairgoers will have the unique opportunity to view a country ham curing house during their visit to the 2026 N.C. State Fair. The Ham House exhibit in Heritage Circle will feature the traditional cure house, a butchering station and cooking porch. Educational information will guide fairgoers along the process of curing country hams. The curing house will feature an educational display from Goodnight Brothers and the National Country Ham Association. Live Demonstrations will be from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19.
Also on Monday, fairgoers can visit the biscuit lady set up near the Ham House. She will demonstrate how to cook sweet potato and country ham biscuits using North Carolina ingredients. Additional ham curing demonstrations will take place at noon and 2 p.m. by Goodnight Brother’s Country Ham and the National Country Ham Association.