David Harris Devours the Competition at Chamber’s Hotdog Eating Contest — Wins 3rd Straight Title!
ASHLAND — What do you get when you mix a community full of heart, a pile of hotdogs, and a little competitive spirit? One sizzling good time — the 3rd Annual Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce Hotdog Eating Contest, held today at The Ashland Kroc Center!
The event, benefiting United Way, started with laughter, cheers, and stomachs full of confidence — until reality (and a few dozen hotdogs) set in. “At first, everyone was smiling,” “but by dog number six, those smiles started to fade fast!”
Defending his title with all the determination of a Nathan’s champion, David Harris of Bill Harris Dealerships proved unstoppable once again, downing 12 hotdogs in just 10 minutes to earn his third consecutive championship. The crowd erupted as Harris took his final bite, sealing his place as Ashland’s undisputed Hotdog King.
“I feel full, I feel very full” Harris joked “It’s all for a good cause, so that makes it worth it!”
Beyond the buns and bragging rights, this event was about community spirit and generosity. Participants helped raise funds for the Ashland County United Way Campaign, with Nicole Hawks leading the way by baking her way to $1,600 in donations. Kaylee Billinghurst followed close behind with $1,000 raised through TikTok-powered community support, and Maribeth Eckert rounded out the top three with $500 raised.
The Chamber extended its gratitude to **Rockin’ R Meats** for supplying the delicious dogs, and to The Ashland Kroc Center for hosting and keeping everyone dry during the damp October weather. Cheers, laughter, and the unmistakable smell of grilled hotdogs filled the air as friends and coworkers turned friendly rivals for the day.
Contestants with Courage (and Strong Stomachs)
This year’s brave lineup included:
David Harris – Bill Harris Chevrolet (3x Champ!)
Sandy Burkholder – Armstrong
Maribeth Eckert – Charles River Labs
Connor Tharp – Central Ohio Group Insurance Agency Inc.
Kaylee Billinghurst – Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce
Carrie Gough – OneTable Strategy
Billy Francis – The Ashland Kroc Center
Sandy Enderby – Ashland County Council on Aging
Brian Hinkle – Park National Bank
Robert Hawks – Charles River Labs
Nicole Hawks – Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston, Ltd.
Jerry Strausbaugh – Appleseed Community Mental Health Center
Tom Furman – Ashland Pregnancy Care Center
Sunny McCarty – ACCESS
Aaron Stitzel – Kash Co. PourHouse
The Chamber’s hotdog showdown wasn’t just a contest — it was a reminder of what makes Ashland special. From the volunteers and donors to the crowd of cheering families, everyone came together for a good laugh and a great cause.
Now that’s community spirit — Ashland style!
