FLETCHER, N.C. — A Goldsboro barbecue team brought home top honors from the mountains after finishing second in the 2026 Got to Be NC Whole Hog Cookoff at the N.C. Mountain State Fair.
Grate Sauces & Rubs of Goldsboro, captained by Ralph LeGrand, earned second place in the statewide competition and a $1,500 prize.
The Wayne County team finished just behind this year’s champion, Showtime’s Legit BBQ of Benson, captained by Kevin Peterson. Peterson’s team claimed first place and the $2,000 grand prize.
Killing Time Grilling Crew of Clinton, captained by Tim Walters, rounded out the top three, finishing third and earning $1,000.
The strong showing by Grate Sauces & Rubs put Goldsboro and Wayne County among the best whole-hog barbecue teams competing at this year’s Mountain State Fair.
The Got to Be NC Whole Hog Cookoff celebrates one of North Carolina’s most recognizable culinary and agricultural traditions, bringing together hog farmers, pitmasters and supporters of the state’s agriculture industry.
The competition also serves a larger purpose by supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders. Barbecue prepared during the cookoff was donated to the Pisgah and Tuscola high school FFA chapters. The students will sell the barbecue to raise money to help send FFA members to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this October.
Peterson said the opportunity to support FFA students made the competition about more than winning.
“It’s a beautiful atmosphere for this competition here at the Mountain State Fair and to be allowed to be part of this competition that gives back to the local FFA is just awesome,” Peterson said.
The event was supported by sponsors and agricultural partners as part of an effort to connect North Carolina’s farmers, barbecue traditions and agricultural education.
For Goldsboro’s Grate Sauces & Rubs, the runner-up finish means bringing a statewide honor — and plenty of barbecue bragging rights — back home to Wayne County.
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