Press Releases

Eight stores pay fines for price scanning errors

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from eight stores in eight counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.

N.C. State Fair announces 2023 Farm Families of the Day

The N.C. State Fair is honoring farm families again this year through its Farm Family of the Dayprogram, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. The program is returning for its third year to recognize and celebrate more of the state’s rich agricultural heritage and the farm families behind the $103.2 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.

N.C. Plant Conservation Scientific Committee to meet Sept. 28 at the Steve Troxler Agricultural Sciences Center

WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Plant Conservation Scientific Committee will discuss conservation program updates and the opportunity to incorporate plant species into the State Wildlife Action Plan.    WHEN:Thursday, Sept. 21, 1 to 4 p.m. 

N.C. State Fair walk-up discount ticket sales begin Sept. 28

Skip the line and save money by grabbing your 2023 North Carolina State Fairtickets in advance at a discounted price. The Fair runs Oct. 12-22 and fairgoers can buyadmission tickets, ride tickets and unlimited ride wristbands for a discounted price at threelocations around Raleigh.• Gate 9 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds (off Trinity Road) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.• State Farmers Market ticket booth (between the Farmers Building and MarketShoppes) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.• N.C. Museum of History lobby (on weekdays only) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

N.C. Mountain State Fair announces final list of 2023 livestock winners

Following is a list of winners in the N.C. Mountain State Fair livestock shows held Sept. 12-17:Llama Performance Champions Show – Sept. 12Sub-Junior PerformanceChampion – Kimber Abendroth, Henderson CountyJunior Performance Champion – Emmalyn Munsey, Henderson CountyIntermediate Performance Champion – Aniyah Bechdel, Henderson CountySenior Performance Champion – Randi Mae Eatmon, Transylvania CountyYouth Poultry Show – Sept. 14

New rides, new entertainers and loads of new foods on deck for the 2023 N.C. State Fair

N.C. State Fair visitors should bring an appetite for fun with four new amusement rides,two new grounds entertainers and over 30 new food items being part of the stellar lineup planned Oct. 12-22 in Raleigh.RidesNew rides range from the elegantly beautiful two-tiered Venetian Carousel to the high voltage thrills of Tesla AC, which is capped offed with six brightly lit lightning bolts hovering above two-person cars that attach to spinning and dipping arms.

N.C. Forest Service urging the public to think ahead, be cautious with outdoor fire

As North Carolina transitions to the fall, the N.C. Forest Service is reminding the public to be careful, ready and responsible when burning outdoors. Typically, wildfires occur more frequently from October through early December. Outdoor fires left unattended can get out of hand quickly, becoming wildfires that threaten lives and property. In 2022, there were nearly 6,400 wildfires that burned more than 24,000 acres in North Carolina, 99% of which were human caused.

Final N.C. Mountain State Fair cooking contest winners announced

Sharon Gates of Leicester continued to impress judges during the final week of the Mountain State Fair, winning the N.C. Blueberry Council’s From Scratch Contest and $200 for her blueberry mousse recipe. This victory was in addition to Gates’ wins in the Tomato Growers Association’s Fresh Tomatoes Contest and the N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council Classic Comfort Food Contest earlier in the Mountain State Fair.

N.C. Mountain State Fair annouces youth livestock winners

Following is a list of winners in the livestock shows held during the first weekend of the N.C. Mountain State Fair, Sept. 8-10:ARBA Youth Rabbit Show

N.C. Mountain State Fair egg and dairy contest winners announced

Local winners took home $900 in prize money for winning recipes in contests sponsored by the N.C. Egg Association and N.C. Dairy Producers Association at the Mountain State Fair.Amy Braman (pictured above left) of Pisgah Forest earned first-place honors and $200 with her elote (Mexican street corn) frittata recipe, finishing ahead of Sharon Gates of Leicester who took home $150 and second place for her deluxe pizza frittata recipe. Jennifer Currie of Clyde earned $100 and third place for her Dear Me, This is Gouda breakfast frittata recipe.