MINOT, N.D. – The crowd packed the SRT Park Festival Tent on Sunday, July 19th, as the North Dakota State Fair hosted its inaugural Hot Dog Eating Contest, one of five new Celebrate the BIG 250 – The Fair Way! competitions created in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
Competitors ranging in age from 18 to 36 had just five minutes to eat as many of the 12 Nathan’s Famous hot dogs in front of them as possible. Contestants could dunk their buns in water, but only whole hot dogs counted toward the final score.
The competition quickly turned into an impressive display of speed and determination as Darin Spelhaug, 36, Executive Secretary of the North Dakota FFA, separated himself from the field. With one full minute remaining, Spelhaug became the only contestant to finish all 12 hot dogs, leaving no doubt about who would be crowned the North Dakota State Fair’s first-ever Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion.
For his winning performance, Spelhaug received:
- A $100 Marketplace Foods gift card
- A North Dakota State Fair merchandise voucher
- A championship certificate
- A champion’s trophy
The contest was emceed by Tom Schrader of K-HITS 106.9, whose energy kept the packed crowd engaged from the opening countdown to the final bite.
The North Dakota State Fair extends its sincere appreciation to Marketplace Foods for sponsoring the Hot Dog Eating Contest and providing the buns and hot dogs.
The Hot Dog Eating Contest is one of five new America 250 competitions introduced during the 2026 North Dakota State Fair. Alongside the Pie Eating Contest, Best Legs on the Fairgrounds Contest, Mullet Contest, and the North Dakota State Fair Arm Wrestling Championship, these events invite the community to embrace their competitive spirit while celebrating America’s 250th birthday the Fair way.
“Creating the Hot Dog Eating Contest was such a fun project because we wanted to bring something exciting, energetic, and uniquely American to the Fair,” said Faith Malsom, Marketing Intern for the North Dakota State Fair. “Seeing a packed tent full of people cheering on the contestants made all the planning worthwhile. It was incredible to watch the crowd embrace this new tradition, and we can’t wait to see it grow in the years ahead.”
The North Dakota State Fair thanks all of the contestants, Marketplace Foods, Tom Schrader, volunteers, and the enthusiastic crowd for making the first-ever Hot Dog Eating Contest an overwhelming success.
The North Dakota State Fair congratulates all of this year’s participants for their courage, determination, and great attitudes. We look forward to seeing how the competition grows next year!
About North Dakota State Fair
The North Dakota State Fair, held annually in Minot, North Dakota, has been a cherished tradition for
decades and remains the state’s premier summer event. With a diverse range of activities, exhibits,
competitions, and entertainment, the Fair draws over 350,000 visitors each year, making it North
Dakota’s largest annual gathering. For more information, visit ndstatefair.com.
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Contact Information
Charlene Ratliff North Dakota State Fair (701) 857-7620 char@ndstatefair.com
