Press Releases
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.
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 2023 N.C. State Fair ended its 11-day run with a strong final weekendthat pushed total attendance to 926,425. Other fair highlights included a new auction record forthe Livestock Sale of Champions and strong participation for Smithfield Foods Hunger ReliefDay and competitive entries.
John Tyler Moore of Durham wrapped up the State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge serieswith a first-place win for his Brunch Balls recipe in the Nahunta Pork Center’s Not Your Mama’s Sausage Balls Challenge. Moore won the opening day contest, too. He took home $500 prize for the win.Second place and a $300 prize went to Jill Moore of Chapel Hill for her Flaming Lime Sausage Balls. Third place and $200 went to Kimberly Howell of Raleigh for her for her Slap Yo Sweet Mama – Pineapple Jalapeno Sausage Balls recipe.The winning recipe follows:
Sarah Hester of Knightdale won the N.C. State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge titled the “Summer Salad of the South: Kickin’ Chicken Salad Challenge” presented by House of Raeford Farms. Hester’s Curry Chicken Salad earned $500 in prize money. This is the first year Hester has competed in the fair’s cooking competitions, and she also won this year’s “Make-Ahead Lunch” challenge.Lisa Brescia of Cary placed second, earning $300 for her “Thai Meets Indi Curry Salad.” Third place and $200 went to Pamela Cash of Youngsville for her traditional chicken salad.
Mother of four Kim Cooper of Carolina Beach earned a blue ribbon and a $500 prize in the Let's Get Cheesy: Mac-n-Cheese Challenge with her family recipe for Mema’s Mac & Cheese.Jessica Williams of Raleigh took second place and won $300 for her loaded seafood mac andcheese. Allison Wylie of Garner took third place and won $200 for her Korean fried chicken macand cheese.The winning recipe follows:Mema’s Mac & CheeseIngredients:
Savannah Ranson of Raleigh placed first in the Carnitas Street Taco Challengepresented by Smithfield Foods. Her Blue Corn Carnitas Street Tacos won her the blue ribbon anda prize of $500.Chelsie Rose Troxel of Angier won the second-place price and $300 with her Sweet CarnitaTacos. Aisha Barnes of Wake Forest won third place with her Carnitas Recipe, and was also thewinner of $200.The winning recipe follows:Blue Corn Carnitas Street TacosIngredients:Carnitas:
Taylor Weber of Raleigh placed first in the Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie Challenge with her Spicy Green Chili and Sweet Corn Skillet Chicken Pot Pie. This was her first win at the Home Chef Challenge, and she took home $500 as a reward.Bob Brescia of Cary won the second-place price and $300 with South of the Border ChickenSkillet Pie. Third place and $200 went to Julie Truelove of Raleigh with her ThanksgivingChicken Potpie.The winning recipe follows:FillingIngredients:
Registered Dietitian Sarah Hester of Knightdale took home the blue ribbon and a$500 prize in the MREs in ’23: Make-Ahead Lunch Challenge presented by Wegmans with arecipe for sweet potato beef taco skillet.Amy Zimmerman of Raleigh took second place and won $300 for her chicken and rice bowl.Aaminah Hasan of Durham took third place and won $200 for her Mason jar miso soup.The winning recipe follows:Sweet potato beef taco skilletMakes 2-4 servingsIngredients: