Topics Related to NC State Fair

RALEIGH – The N.C. State Fair will be returning to the fairgrounds Oct. 17-27, so it’s time to start thinking about planning your visit. One great way to participate is by entering a competition, and the fair is currently welcoming people to show off their skills.The State Fair offers many competition categories such as arts and photography, culinary, fruit and vegetable production, hobbies and handicrafts, flowers and more.Over the years the fair has incorporated new technologies into their competitions and the same applies this year.
RALEIGH – The economic impact of North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness industry jumped to $111.1 billion, posting a second straight year of strong growth at nearly $8 billion Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today. 
WHO/WHAT:          Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will make a brief ag economic impact announcement and comments and have media availability prior to the 1 p.m. Tractor Parade that officially opens the Got to Be NC Festival. Media will have an opportunity to capture two news stories at one event.  WHEN/WHERE:      Friday, May 17, 12:30 p.m.
RALEIGH -- The Got to Be NC Festival takes over the N.C. State Fairgrounds May 17-19 in Raleigh with plenty of food, fun, tractors, music, agricultural exhibits and activities for the whole family.             Festivalgoers will find North Carolina food products and N.C. agriculture on full display throughout the grounds.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Century Farm Program is looking for farms that have been in continuous family ownership for 100 years or more to join the more than 2,000 farms in the program. The program exists to honor farms for their longstanding contributions to North Carolina’s rich agricultural heritage. Every four years, the N.C. State Fair hosts a reunion to recognize Century Farm families. This year’s reunion will be held on Monday, Oct. 21.
North Carolina’s current most famous fowl will be on display during the annual Got to Be NC Festival in Raleigh. The event runs May 19-21 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.  Visitors to the festival can meet Chocolate and Chip, the two North Carolina turkeys pardoned this past Thanksgiving at the White House. The birds, as well as the other animals, will be on display during the festival.
The Got to Be NC Festival has added even more family friendly activities to its lineup this year, making the festival a can’t miss event May 19-21 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. New activities include a Butterfly Barn, Lil Ducky Water Racing game, a guest appearance by Chocolate and Chip the White House pardoned turkeys from North Carolina, a cast iron skillet skee ball competition presented by Carolina Cooker, egg candling demonstrations and new food vendors.   
Thirty-one North Carolina students have been named recipients of 2023 N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarships, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced.The scholarships are designed for high school seniors and students currently enrolled in an institute of higher education who have participated in the junior livestock or market turkey shows at the N.C. State Fair.
The Got to Be NC Festival will honor farmers aged 18-40 through the Young Farmer of the Day program. The program, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina, celebrates our state’s agricultural future and three young farmers who are behind our state’s $92.9 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.
Space is still available for farm-equipment hobbyists and vendors wanting to take part in the Got to Be NC Festival May 19-21 at the State Fairgrounds.Organizers are on the hunt for collectors of antique tractors and farm equipment to join a display of more than 1,000 pieces of machinery. Tractors in working order also can participate in the daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required.