Press Releases

Savannah Ranson of Raleigh placed first in the Carnitas Street Taco Challenge
presented by Smithfield Foods. Her Blue Corn Carnitas Street Tacos won her the blue ribbon and
a prize of $500.

Registered Dietitian Sarah Hester of Knightdale took home the blue ribbon and a
$500 prize in the MREs in ’23: Make-Ahead Lunch Challenge presented by Wegmans with a
recipe for sweet potato beef taco skillet.

Taylor Weber of Raleigh placed first in the Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie Challenge with her Spicy Green Chili and Sweet Corn Skillet Chicken Pot Pie. This was her first win at the Home Chef Challenge, and she took home $500 as a reward.

Habeebah Hasan of Durham placed first and won $500 in the N.C. State Fair Luscious

Shenita Arvia Pelham of Raleigh earned the top spot and $500 in prize money in the State Fair’s “Down Home Dessert: Banana Pudding Challenge” presented by Ambetter Health of North Carolina. Pelham, a native of Biscoe, served up her “Boozie Banana Pudding Cheesecake” for the win.

Domino Ireland of Raleigh placed first in Boozy Bites: Appetizers with SPIRIT! Challenge with his Spicy Sabrosa Shrimp Ceviche with Tequila Blanco by Weldon Mills. He took home $500 for his creation.

Karen Allen of Holly Springs placed first and took home the $500 prize with her Bella’s Bark Board
charcuterie board in today’s Bella’s Birthday Bash Challenge at the N.C. State Fair.

John Tyler Moore of Durham placed first and took home the $500 prize with his Carolina Catfish Sliders in Primetime with the Pack Slam Dunk Sliders Home Chef Challenge at the N.C. State Fair. Moore is a nurse at the Campus Health Center at N.C. State University.

A North Carolina State Fair record was set and the largest watermelon grown

County governments and conservation nonprofit groups may apply for grant funding from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for farmland preservation projects. Applicants have until Dec. 18 to apply.