Bobcat senior named Georgia National Fair ‘Corn Dog Champ’

By Margaret Schell

W hen James "Jesse" Dean, a senior accounting major from Brunswick, Georgia, went to the Georgia National Fair with his girlfriend, junior Alivia Blanton, her brother and father, Blanton had a surprise for Dean. She signed him and herself up for a corn dog eating contest.

There were 20 contestants vying for the title, but it turns out a Bobcat was top dog.

The competition had two rounds. The winners of round one and round two faced off in the final round. Dean won the second round then advanced to the final contest.

As Dean downed the corn dogs, Blanton and her family cheered him on. As Dean was eating as many corn dogs as he could in two minutes, Alivia, seated beside him, cheered him on between bites of a corn dog.

"Alivia kept telling me to push a little further," he said. "That helped a lot."

His technique made the food go down easier.

"I've seen a lot of food eating videos, so I took a bite and a drink of water," he said. "I've seen one technique where people take multiple bites, soak the corn dogs in water."

Then, as part of the contest, Dean ate three funnel cakes in one minute.

He won the corn dog eating champion trophy, a T-shirt and $50 to spend at the fair.

After Dean graduates from Georgia College & State University, he will begin an internship in January 2026 at Carr, Riggs & Ingram - an accounting and advisory firm in Atlanta. He'll also pursue his Master of Accountancy at Georgia College.

Dean learned what it takes to get that dream job. He's practiced interviewing and networking.

"Connections are huge, and Georgia College prepared me well for establishing them, which is the most important thing if you're working in the business world," he said.

Dean said he enjoyed the uplifting family atmosphere of the fair corn dog competition and would do it again.

"It was a good time all around," Dean said. "If you want to win, go into the contest with that mindset and stick with it the entire time. And, most of all, just have fun!"

Header Images: Bobcat seniors Jesse Dean and Alivia Blanton at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. (Photos by Margaret Schell and Jesse Dean)