New tobacco contest offered at the N.C. State Fair

The N.C. State Fair is offering a new flue-cured-tobacco-themed competition this year with a traditional twist, so if you are a tobacco farmer and want a chance to earn prize money, colorful ribbons and bragging rights, keep reading.

The Heritage Tobacco Harvest Competition will offer first-, second- and third-place prizes for silver-dollar sized hand ties of tobacco for lugs/primings, cutters, leaf, tips and whole stalk (one hand from each stalk position.)

First place is $250, second is $150 and third is $100. There will also be a Commissioner’s Award selected, with the winner receiving $500.

Exhibitors must be 18 years of age or older and be North Carolina residents. The competition is open to North Carolina-grown, flue-cured tobacco only, and entries must be from individual exhibitors, not teams or farm submissions. Judging will be based on the best tobacco for each stalk position and not on the quality of the tying technique. Exhibitors are limited to three entries per category, and entries must be submitted separately for each category.

Entry forms must be received by Sept. 28 in order to participate in the competition. Tobacco entries can be dropped off Oct. 10-12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heritage Circle Tobacco Barn at the State Fairgrounds. For entry forms, or to register online, go to http://www.ncstatefair.org/2015/Competitions/Entering/HeritageTobaccoHarvestCompetition.html. Questions should be directed to Stan Biconish, contest superintendent, at stan.biconish@ncagr.gov.

The contest is sponsored by the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina.