Meridian Waste’s Tri-Corners Landfill proudly welcomed more than 400 guests to its 3rd Annual Tri-Corners Landfill Fishing Rodeo held Saturday, May 16, 2026, bringing together local families for a day of outdoor recreation, environmental education, and community engagement in Alamance County, NC.

The popular annual event featured approximately 150 youth fishermen and fisherwomen competing in two age divisions: ages 8 and under and ages 9–15. Participants eagerly cast their lines throughout the morning for a chance to win prizes for the largest and smallest fish caught during the rodeo.

Largest Fish Winners:

• Ages 8 & Under: Reagan G.

• Ages 9–15: Jayden M.

Smallest Fish Winners:

• Ages 8 & Under: Carter M.

• Ages 9–15: Charles S.

In addition to the fishing competition, families enjoyed a wide range of free activities and attractions designed to entertain while educating guests about landfill operations and environmental stewardship. Event highlights included inflatable attractions featuring a kid-friendly mechanical bull, a hands-on Construction Corner (sponsored by New Atlantic Contracting) where children built planter boxes, and the opportunity to virtually operate landfill equipment through Caterpillar Inc.’s mobile training simulator. Guests also enjoyed Meridian Waste’s always-popular Touch-A-Truck experience, field games, craft tables, raffles, and guided hayride landfill tours. Other event items were donated by Tire Solutions, Sponge Buddy, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department and the E.M. Holt Fire Company.

Each guest received complimentary lunch and a themed gift bag filled with Swedish Fish candy, Sour Patch Worms, planting seeds, and a coloring sheet. The first fifty fishing rodeo registrants received a free fishing pole compliments of Couch Oil. Additionally, Meridian Waste accepted donated food or cash in exchange for raffle tickets to benefit the E.M. Holt Elementary School’s Backpack Program. The Backpack Program provides weekend meals to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches to help ensure the children have nutritious food over the weekend and to return to school each Monday mornings ready to learn.

“It’s important for us to open our doors and invite the community into our facilities so they can better understand the critical role landfills play in protecting public health and the environment,” said Josh Gustaf, Landfill Manager for Tri-Corners Landfill. “Events like our Fishing Rodeo help demonstrate how solid waste can be managed safely, responsibly, and in full environmental compliance while also showing that a landfill can be a strong and engaged community partner. We were especially honored to welcome Alamance County Chairman Kelly Allen and provide a firsthand look at how Tri-Corners Landfill serves as both vital infrastructure and a good neighbor to the community.”

Guests participating in the landfill hayride tours had the opportunity to see active landfill operations up close and learn more about environmental protections, engineering systems, and the day-to-day management required to safely operate a modern disposal facility.

Meridian Waste encourages the community to mark their calendars for Tri-Corners Landfill’s next family-friendly event, the annual A-MAZE-ing Pumpkin Patch, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026.