GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair continued its celebration of community, agriculture and friendly competition on Tuesday, October 6, with UNC Health Wayne Senior Day, pie baking contests, livestock competitions, spelling bees and more.
From recognizing some of Wayne County’s most remarkable senior citizens to showcasing the talents of young competitors, Tuesday brought another exciting day of activities to the fairgrounds.
Senior Citizens Take Center Stage
One of Tuesday’s highlights was the Salute to Senior Citizens, recognizing local residents for family milestones, longevity and special achievements.
Ashley Kennedy of Pikeville, at 92 years old, received recognition as the Oldest Senior Citizen, while Michelle Anderson of Goldsboro, age 53, was honored as the Youngest Grandparent.
Rosemary and Ron Rands of Goldsboro received recognition for being married the longest, celebrating an impressive 66 years of marriage.
Other Senior Day honorees included:
- Most Children: Butch Parker of Mount Olive, five children.
- Most Recent Grandparent: Michelle Daw of Goldsboro, who became a grandparent on September 25, 2026.
- Most Grandchildren: Agnes Kornegay of Goldsboro, 19 grandchildren.
- Most Great-Grandchildren: Alma Darden of Mount Olive, 27 great-grandchildren.
The annual celebration offered an opportunity to recognize the generations of families who have helped make Wayne County a special place to call home.
Pie Baking Contest Serves Up Winning Recipes
The fair’s annual Pie Baking Contest brought together talented bakers competing in adult and youth divisions.
In the Adult Cream Pie category, Lori Jones earned first place, followed by Susan Elliott in second and Meredith Jones in third.
The Adult Custard Pie winners were Brianna Crawford Edwards in first place, Susan Elliott in second and Penny Lanier in third.
In the Adult Fruit Pie competition, Joelle Vied claimed first place, Angie Joyner finished second and Sherman Dilley took third.
The Adult Nut Pie winners included Elva Graham in first place, Kielee Hall in second and Joelle Vied in third.
In the All Other Pies category, Dawn Anderson took home first place, Brianna Crawford Edwards earned second and Lori Jones finished third.
Young bakers also demonstrated their talents in the youth competition.
Youth first-place winners included:
- Cream Pies: Colton Patterson
- Custard Pies: Maggie Sutton
- Nut Pies: Elaina Pollock
- All Other Pies: Davis Cauley
No placements were reported in the Youth Fruit Pie category.
Students Shine in Spelling Bee Competition
Students from schools across Wayne County put their spelling skills to the test during Tuesday’s Spelling Bee competition.
First-place winners by grade were:
- Third Grade: Irene Shin, Wayne Country Day
- Fourth Grade: June Lauterbach, Northeast Elementary
- Fifth Grade: Josephine Hodge, Tommy’s Road Elementary
- Sixth Grade: Emily Randolph, Wayne Christian
- Seventh Grade: Avery Campbell, Norwayne
- Eighth Grade: Isabella Huerta Brentise, Wayne Country Day
The competition highlighted the academic achievements and dedication of local students.
Flower Show Recognizes Top Exhibitors
The fair’s second Flower Show recognized two Goldsboro residents for their outstanding entries.
Judy Trott of Goldsboro received Best of Show honors in the Cut Flowers category, while Kathy Jones of Goldsboro earned Best of Show in Artistic Design.
Livestock Skillathon Highlights Agricultural Knowledge
Young agricultural enthusiasts demonstrated their knowledge and skills during the Livestock Skillathon Contest.
Top winners included:
- Junior 4-H: Madelyn Davis
- Senior 4-H: Lila Britt
- Middle School FFA: Juniper Sigmund
- High School FFA: Bradley Diaz
The competition provided an opportunity for young people involved in 4-H and FFA to demonstrate their understanding of livestock and agriculture.
Junior Chicken Show Crowns Showmanship Winners
The Open Junior Chicken Show also featured young exhibitors demonstrating their poultry handling and showmanship skills.
Showmanship winners included:
- Ages 3-7: Will Pennington
- Ages 8-11: Tessa Sanderson
- Ages 12-14: Spate Sanderson
- Ages 15-18: Anahi Vazquez
Spring Creek High School Sweeps Electrical Contest
Students from Spring Creek High School dominated the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Electrical Contest, capturing all three top positions.
Jonathan Tyner earned first place, followed by Merari Sanchez-Ortiz in second and Jonathan Gonzalez in third.
The competition showcased the technical abilities of local students preparing for careers in skilled trades.
The Best Ten Days of Fall Continue
With another day of competition and celebration complete, the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair continues to showcase the people, traditions and agricultural heritage that make Wayne County special.
From talented students and livestock exhibitors to award-winning bakers and longtime community members, Tuesday’s events highlighted the many generations that contribute to the fair’s success.
Visitors can find daily schedules, upcoming events and additional fair information at www.waynefair.com.
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