A total of 47 adorable little faces were entered into the eighteenth annual Cutest Baby Contest, hosted by Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC).

Entries were submitted in June with live online voting occurring in July, when community members, family and friends were invited to vote daily for their favorite.

Receiving the most votes to earn the “2026 Cutest Baby” title was Lauren, daughter of Cory and Gracie Weeks.

Lauren is the first child of Cory and Gracie, both educators in the Huron community. Gracie, a lifelong Huron resident, will begin her first year teaching fourth grade this fall, while Cory is entering his fifth year teaching at Huron Middle School and coaching local student-athletes.

Lauren’s favorite toys are rattles and crinkle books, but according to her parents, it’s her cheerful personality that stands out the most. “She’s always smiling,” shared her parents. “She loves to talk, she’s loud, she’s very chill and always happy. Even when she wakes up in the morning, she has a smile on her face.”

As the winner, Lauren received the grand prize package which includes a portable sound machine, $75 in Huron Bucks, a gift basket of baby essentials, a stuffed toy from the HRMC Auxiliary Gift Shop, a commemorative blanket, and a feature photo on HRMC Cutest Baby advertising and promotional materials.

Receiving the next highest number of votes in the contest was Paxton, son of Brandon and Sierra Renner.

Paxton is the first child of Brandon, who works for Muth Electric, and Sierra, a physical therapist assistant at HRMC. His parents describe him as goofy and always ready for an adventure, whether he’s on the go with his family or kicking away at his favorite Fisher-Price piano. As the Cutest Baby runner-up, Paxton received $75 in Huron Bucks.

HRMC congratulates the winners and thanks everyone who participated in the 2026 Cutest Baby Contest. To learn more about the HRMC Birthing Center, visit huronregional.org/birthingcenter.