FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2011

N.C. State Fair announces online release of 2011 Premium Book

RALEIGH - Your homemade spaghetti sauce may be worth more than you think. Each year, more than $500,000 in premiums are awarded to the top entries in N.C. State Fair competitions. State Fair competitions have their roots in agriculture, but premiums are also awarded in areas as diverse as decorated cakes, photography, plumbing and pipe working.

The 2011 Premium Book, which is now available online at www.ncstatefair.org, is the how-to guide to all of the fair’s competitions. It details the rules, deadlines, cash prizes and judging criteria associated with each contest.

Hardcopy books will be available in mid-August in the lobby of the State Fair administration office at 1025 Blue Ridge Road. You can also request a mailed copy by contacting the administration office at (919) 733-2145.

 “Premiums, or cash prizes, are as old as the fair itself,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The first N.C. State Fair in 1853 had 153 premiums, and since that time we’ve seen enormous growth.”

Originally premiums were designed to highlight advances in agriculture and to encourage the production of specific crops and livestock. Over time the fair added premiums for arts and crafts, canning and baking.

“Premium competitions attract a wide range of North Carolinians, but what unites them all is dedication and commitment,” said Nikki Berryman, coordinator of competitive exhibits. “Many contestants spend months preparing their entries and hope to leave the fair with a ribbon and a smile.”

Ribbons are not in short supply either. The fair offers nearly 29,000 ribbons each year.

Competitions are open to the public, and a completed entry form must be submitted to the N.C. State Fair Entry Department online or by regular mail. All entry forms and online registrations must be submitted on the deadline date by 5 p.m. Deadlines vary by competition.

For more information about the competitions or the State Fair, go to www.ncstatefair.org.

-jdm-