North Carolina makes history: Alexander County 4-H team crowned Grand Champion at National Food Challenge

Alexander County 4-H has made history on the national stage. The Alexander County 4-H “Grill Billies” cooking team was named Grand Champion of the 2026 National 4-H Food Challenge in Texas, becoming the first North Carolina team to win the national competition. The victory also marked the first time an out-of-state team has claimed the national title, ending Texas’s eight-year winning streak.

The team was honored at the October 5 meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners.

The championship comes just as communities across the country celebrate National 4-H Week, October 4–10.

The Grill Billies competed against 17 teams in a competition designed to test culinary skills, nutrition knowledge, creativity, teamwork, and communication.

Teams had less than 40 minutes to tackle mystery culinary challenges. In the preliminary round, the Grill Billies were tasked with creating an appetizer using rye bread as the mystery ingredient. They responded with a Brie-stuffed meatball slider, earning a spot in the final round.

For the championship round, the mystery ingredient was napa cabbage. The team transformed it into an Asian-inspired cabbage soup, earning the competition’s top honor.

The challenge went far beyond preparing a dish. Team members also delivered presentations to a panel of judges explaining their recipes’ nutritional value, serving sizes, preparation methods, and food safety practices.

“They represented Alexander County and North Carolina with unmatched excellence, and we couldn’t be prouder of their extraordinary success,” said Der Holcomb, Alexander County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and team coach. “Making history as the very first team from North Carolina to win this championship makes this milestone truly unforgettable.”

While the competition was the highlight of the trip, the experience was about much more than winning. Team members experienced a new part of the country, competed alongside 4-H youth from across the nation, and made memories that will last a lifetime.

“We went to Texas to have fun and give it everything we had, but coming home as national champions is something we will never forget,” said team member Allie Millsaps. “I’m so grateful to have had team members who worked so hard and to be able to share this moment together.”

Holcomb said the Grill Billies’ national championship is not only a tremendous accomplishment for the team but also a historic moment for Alexander County 4-H and North Carolina 4-H. Their success demonstrates the dedication, teamwork, confidence, and leadership skills young people can develop through participation in 4-H.

Congratulations to Lucas Hardin, Lucy Icenhour, Allie Millsaps, and Uriah Sigmon — North Carolina’s first National 4-H Food Challenge Grand Champions.

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