Manatee County Fair wraps up 2026 with donut eating contest victory

PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) - The Manatee County Fair concluded its 2026 run Sunday with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office claiming victory in the annual donut eating contest.

The sheriff’s office team defeated North River Fire Department 18-16 in Saturday’s Peachy’s Baking Company Donut Eating Contest at the fair.

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Sergeant Mark Ferrier, Lieutenant Nelson Hernandez and Deputy Juan Phillips ate a combined total of 18 donuts to edge out the firefighters’ 16 donuts.

Fair CEO and manager Danny Alfonso said everything went well this year. The fair is taking a few days off to recuperate before releasing final attendance numbers.

Sheriff Rick Wells attended the contest, which has become a tradition between the two departments.