The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) today signed a nearly $65 million, 10-year Good Neighbor Agreement to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.
Press Releases
WHAT: Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will officially open the 2026 N.C. Mountain State Fair with ribbon cutting ceremony. There will also be a special 9/11 remembrance.
FLETCHER — Great North Carolina barbecue starts with the people who raise it, cook it and support it. From farmers raising quality pork to pitmasters tending the fire for hours, whole hog barbecue brings together agriculture, tradition and community. The Got to Be NC Whole Hog Barbecue Cookoff, featuring 11 competitive cooking teams, returns to the N.C. Mountain State Fair Saturday, Sept. 12. The contest celebrates every part of the farm-to-table connection, and serves up some good barbecue for a good cause along the way.
Each year the N.C. State Fair features dozens of competitions, across all different types of categories. If you think you have what it takes to enter or even win a ribbon, now is the time to enter before registration closes on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 11:59 p.m.“State Fair competitions are where people from all across North Carolina are really able to show off their talents,” said Kent Yelverton, N.C. State Fair director. “Being a ribbon winner is a big accomplishment and with so many different competitions there are lots of chances to win, but you cannot win if you don’t enter.”
Pack the car and head for the mountains Saturday, Sept. 12, as the 2026 High Country Farm Tour gives visitors a firsthand look at the farms, farmers and agricultural businesses that make Watauga County a special place to grow, raise and enjoy local food.Six farms and one winery will welcome visitors of all ages for a day of exploring High Country agriculture. Guests can meet farm animals, explore vegetable and flower farms, visit a working vineyard and learn firsthand how local food is grown and produced.
Each year, some of the best memories worth making are made right here at the N.C. State Fair, and all those memories start with one thing, a ticket. Fairgoers can save money on their tickets to the 2026 N.C. State Fair, happening Oct. 15-25 in Raleigh, by buying discount tickets online now through Oct. 15.
WHO/WHAT: The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund will hold an advisory committee meeting to:
The N.C. Mountain State Fair will offer special themed days during its 2026 run, adding to the value and experience of the fair. In addition to the daily lineup of entertainment, food, livestock shows, rides, events and more, these days bring special programs and/or admission deals to the fair, which runs Sept. 11-20 at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.
N.C. Forest Service staff in Stanly County recognized with State Forester’s Prescribed Burning Award
N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) Stanly County staff members Josh Hawley, Cody Hartsell and Wade Blalock are the 2026 recipients of the State Forester’s Prescribed Burning Award, which honors individuals committed to expanding the use of prescribed fire in North Carolina.Presented each year during the N.C. Prescribed Fire Council’s annual meeting, the State Forester’s Prescribed Burning Award recognizes an NCFS employee or team that demonstrates leadership and excellence in prescribed burning across North Carolina’s forests.