Gossen, English repeat as Best of Wheat grand champions
Korben Gossen of Corn and Renee English of Oklahoma City receive grand champion bread trays at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair. Gossen’s entry, “Route 66 Flag Bread,” earned grand champion honors in the junior division. English’s entry, “Mother Road Polish Double-Braided Chalka,” rose to the top to earn grand champion honors in the senior division. Both Gossen and English won grand champion in their respective divisions for the second year in a row with entirely new recipes.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Korben Gossen of Corn in Washita County placed first in the Specialty Shape Bread category of the junior division at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest held Sept. 27 at the Oklahoma State Fair. His “Route 66 Flag Bread” topped the competition with white and whole wheat breads used to create the stripes and meticulous shaping forming a Route 66 sign in celebration of the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary.
The 2026 bread baking competition featured a theme celebrating 100 years of Route 66 in Oklahoma and across America. Gossen’s specialty-shaped bread earned high marks for its shape, texture and flavor, and was baked flawlessly throughout. The entry topped the junior division, earning Gossen the title of grand champion.
Karen Armbruster, a former Oklahoma State University extension educator from Woods County who judged the junior division, said, “It is rare for a specialty-shaped bread to win the overall junior division because of the technical challenges involved in achieving the right shape while also maintaining excellent flavor and crumb texture. This entry, however, truly had it all and was deserving of the grand champion title.”
Oklahoma County’s Renee English of Oklahoma City placed first in the Other Wheat Breads category of the senior division. Her entry, “Mother Road Polish Double-Braided Chalka,” also followed the Route 66 theme. The bread was impeccably braided into a picture-perfect loaf and baked evenly throughout. Its consistent texture and exquisite flavor ultimately allowed English’s loaf to rise to the top in the final round of competition, earning her the title of senior division grand champion.
Arleen James, a former Oklahoma State University extension educator from Texas County who judged the senior division, said, “Often with braided breads, you do not see consistency throughout, with everything being evenly baked. This braided loaf was not only a perfectly golden color on the outside, but when sliced, it was impeccable in all areas, making it a picture-perfect loaf that anyone would want to take with them while traveling on the Mother Road.”
The contest is an annual event sponsored by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma State Fair.
“We had 109 entries from 48 counties this year, all champion or reserve champion winners in the county contests,” said Jerry Wiebe, OWC chair. “We had record-breaking attendance and always enjoy the opportunity to award the top bread bakers in the state.”
The contest consists of 13 classes — six in the senior division and seven in the junior division.
State champions in the junior division include Sawyer Roberson, Mayes County, white bread; Janelle Merkle, Rogers County, whole wheat bread; Nova Carr, Oklahoma County, dinner rolls; Kendallyn Gossen, Washita County, other wheat breads; Abriana Suhr, McCurtain County, sweet breads; Korben Gossen, Washita County, specialty shape breads; and Ridge Spray, Woodward County, bread machine.
State champions in the senior division include Nancy Barth, Harper County, white bread; Don Robison, Kingfisher County, whole wheat breads; Sue Postelwait, Noble County, dinner rolls; Renee English, Oklahoma County, other wheat breads; Roberta Hinkle, Grady County, sweet breads; and Renee English, Oklahoma County, bread machine.
A cookbook featuring the top recipes from every class in the Best of Wheat competition will be available online in January 2027 at www.okwheat.org.
OWC is funded by Oklahoma wheat producers and promotes greater use of wheat in both domestic and international markets through research, market development and public education. Five wheat producers representing designated districts across the state serve on OWC’s board of directors. Current officers are Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; Michael Peters, vice chair, Okarche; David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga; Tom Cannon, member, Blackwell; and R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter.
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Grand champions:
Renee English of Oklahoma City received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the Other Wheat Breads category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her “Mother Road” Polish Double-Braided Chalka. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Corn, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, presented English with her award.
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The prize-winning “Mother Road” Polish Double-Braided Chalka that earned English champion in the other wheat breads senior division, and later, grand champion overall.
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Korben Gossen of Corn received his grand champion bread tray at the 2025 State Fair Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest for his Moist White Bread in the white bread class. From left are Raymond Parrish, OWC chairman, Hunter; Bailey Gossen, Miss Elk City Teen; Gossen; and David Gammill, OWC board member, Chattanooga.
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Gossen’s prize-winning entry — Route 66 Flag Bread.
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Senior division champions
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Don Robison of Kingfisher received his champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the whole wheat breads category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for his Don’s Whole Wheat Bread entry. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Robison with his award.
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Sue Postelwait of Perry received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the dinner rolls category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her Oat Milk Dinner Rolls entry. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Postelwait with her award.
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Roberta Hinkle of Tuttle received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the sweet breads category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her Raspberry Cheese Braid entry. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Hinkle with her award.
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Renee English of Oklahoma City received her first-place ribbon in the bread machine category for her “Get Your Kicks” Rosemary Parmesan Bread recipe at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented English with her blue ribbon.
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Junior division champions
Sawyer Roberson of Pryor received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the white bread category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her White Bread recipe. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Roberson with her award.
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Janelle Merkle of Claremore received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the whole wheat bread category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her Mama’s Favorite Soft Whole Wheat Bread. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Merkle with her award.
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Nova Carr of Midwest City received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the dinner rolls category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her Robyn on the Farm’s One-Hour Homemade Rolls. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Carr with her award.
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Kendallyn Gossen of Corn received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the other wheat breads category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her Challah Bread recipe. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Gossen with her award.
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Abriana Suhr of Millerton received her champion bread tray and first-place ribbon in the sweet breads category at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair for her Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Suhr with her award.
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Ridge Spray of Sharon received his first-place ribbon in the bread machine category for his Italian Pepperoni Bread recipe at the 2026 Best of Wheat Bread Baking Contest at the Oklahoma State Fair. Oklahoma Wheat Commissioners Jerry Wiebe, chair, Hooker; R.J. Parrish, member, Hunter; and David Gammill, secretary-treasurer, Chattanooga, along with Bailey Gossen, Miss Western Oklahoma’s Teen, Corn, presented Spray with his blue ribbon.
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