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Katherine Strate Smith, of Strate Insurance Group, Inc., is part of nine regional leaders partnering with Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians to compete in the 2026 Great Cookie Competition, a friendly and flavorful showdown to crown “East Tennessee’s Favorite Cookie.”

Local celebrity and business leaders each represent one of the beloved cookie flavors, including the new Exploremores cookie, and will earn votes by raising money to fund financial assistance for Girl Scouts across the region.

The competition launches Monday, Feb. 9, and competitors only have about a month to secure donations in an effort to crown their cookie East Tennessee’s favorite.

“The Great Cookie Competition is a fun fundraising experience for a good cause,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scout Council of Southern Appalachians (GSCSA). “We really appreciate these competitors for taking up the charge and we hope you’ll support their efforts by voting with your dollars to help invest in tomorrow’s leaders. For example, every female U.S. Secretary of State in history has been a Girl Scout.”

Smith is representing the Samoa cookie which features a buttery shortbread base, covered in chewy caramel and toasted coconut, and finished with chocolate stripes and a chocolate-dipped bottom.

“She says the world will benefit from “Samoa” female leaders and we can’t agree more. Once a Girl Scout herself, Smith has tackled careers in communications and marketing before becoming president and CEO of Strate Insurance Group, the third generation of her family to lead the business,” the Girl Scouts said of Smith in a press release.

Proceeds from the fundraising competition go to financial assistance for the Girl Scout experience, including local programming, uniforms and summer camp scholarships. Each year, Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians provides approximately $120,000 in financial assistance so that every girl, regardless of family circumstances, can experience Girl Scouting.

The competition will take place predominately on social media and through community fundraising events. Cookie Competitors will share stories on why they love their cookie and why they support the Girl Scouts.

Other competitors include

Kaitlyn Walsh of WVLT

Elisa Trentham of Sherwood Media

Knoxville Smokies mascots Knox and Jackson

Amber Lynn Carroll of WATE

PYA Teknovation’s Katelyn Biefeldt.

Michael Galyean, the local chef who recently made his national TV debut on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef

Leslie Bateman of Inside Knoxville

Kelcey Schenheit of Anakeesta.

Voting begins Monday, Feb. 9 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 6.

Visit www.FavoriteCookie.org to vote on the Great Cookie Competition website with distinct links to support each competitor.

The winner will be crowned “East Tennessee’s Favorite Cookie” at the Great Cookie Tasting, on Tuesday, March 24, at Yee-Haw Brewing Co., located at 745 N. Broadway in Knoxville, from 6-8 p.m.

The competition helps launch the 2026 cookie season and the Great Cookie Tasting is a fun, family-friendly event where attendees can cheer on their favorite competitor and enjoy signature Girl Scout cookies paired with libations from Yee-Haw Brewing and Ole Smoky Distillery.