Press Releases

WHAT:Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, N.C. Mountain State Fair officials and others will discuss grounds safety, traffic control, midway operations and animal exhibits.WHEN:         Thursday, Sept. 8, 11 a.m.WHERE:Upper chairlift landing pad, WNC Agricultural Center1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher

North Carolina’s newest invasive pest was recently found in Surry and Stokes counties by Elizabeth Edwards, the N.C. Forest Service’s Surry County assistant ranger. The detection was made just north of Pilot Mountain in the Westfield community. The elm zigzag sawfly had only been previously found in Québec, Canada in 2020 and Virginia in 2021. This pest is native to Asia but has spread to numerous countries outside of its native range.

WHO/WHAT:The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund will hold an advisory committee meeting to review the trust fund budget and hear reports on easement closings, Cycle XVI applications and other trust fund activity. 

WHO/WHAT:    The North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Committee will hold a meeting to hear committee member reports pertaining to Sentinel Landscape activities and reports on other Sentinel Landscape programs.    WHEN:    Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022  1:30 p.m.    

Residents and visitors looking for farms that offer outdoor experiences and local food will have plenty of options with many fall agritourism activities planned at farms across the state. Tours and workshops, u-pick fruit and nursery plants, crop mazes and pumpkin patches, farm stands, farmers markets, festivals and local foods are among the offerings. 

The N.C. State Fair is looking for home chefs to spice up the competitions at the fair with 11 days of cooking challenges. Included are loaded nachos, ultimate brownies, spirited pies, quirky cobbler, a make-ahead breakfast challenge, chili cook-off, grain bowls, sirloin salad, fair food featuring bacon and chicken casserole.

Visitors of the 2022 N.C. Mountain State Fair can earn free admission in exchange for five cans of Laura Lynn brand foods on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The Laura Lynn brand can be found at more than 200 locations of Ingles Markets.MANNA FoodBank, which has seen an uptick in demand, will use the collected food to feed people in the 16 Western-most counties of North Carolina.

The excitement is building with less than three weeks to go until the opening of the 2022 N.C. Mountain State Fair Sept. 9-18 in Fletcher. An adorable otter water show, an alligator show and a thrilling high-wire act will join the fairgrounds entertainment lineup, along with a dozen new food and merchandise vendors. 

Has your farm family got what it takes to be one of the 11 families recognized this year at the N.C. State Fair as a Farm Family of the Day? If you are proud to be an N.C. farmer, work hard to contribute to the state’s No. 1 industry and love both farming and the N.C. State Fair, you could be one of the lucky ones selected.

The 2022 N.C. Mountain State Fair will offer several promotional days to help fairgoers save big on gate and ride tickets during the fair’s 28th annual run Sept. 9-18 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher.“In addition to saving money by buying your admission and ride tickets to the Mountain State Fair in advance, we are offering other great deals for fairgoers during the fair,” said general manager Sean McKeon. “Whether you’re a kid, adult or senior, there are money saving opportunities for everyone, with special promotions being held just about every day of the fair.”