Press Releases

WHO/ WHAT:The N.C. State Fair will host its annual food donation drive for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina on Thursday. Instead of only accepting cans, as in past years, the Food Bank is also encouraging fairgoers to donate other nonperishable food items needed for Western North Carolina hurricane recovery. Each fairgoer who donates six cans of food or six other nonperishable food items will gain free admission at any gate.

WHO/WHAT: The N.C. State Fair will pay tribute to members of the U.S. military for their service to the country on Wednesday. The day will include a military parade, a morning program and military concerts throughout the day. The program will include comments from Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and Major Gen. Todd Hunt, adjutant general of the N.C. National Guard.WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024; N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh

          In collaboration with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, the N.C. State Fair will make changes to this year’s food donation drive to help with hurricane recovery. Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day will be Thursday, Oct. 24, and food collected that day will be sent to Western North Carolina.

RALEIGH – The Maple Hill Loopers continued their winning streak in the N.C. State Fair’s Tobacco Stringing Contest Friday, Oct. 13, notching the team’s 9th win. The team is made up of husband and wife Sandy and Ken Jones of Maple Hill and Michael Sunday of Hendersonville. Sandy Jones looped the stick of tobacco in 1.01 seconds and earned 66 out of 70 points for quality. The team took home $250 in prize money. 

RALEIGH - AccessABILITY Day is returning to the fairgrounds on Sunday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event, presented by Bandwidth, provides a more inclusive, less stimulating environment that welcomes all fairgoers regardless of ability.As soon as the gates open at 9 a.m., vendors and booths will operate without lights or music until 1 p.m. Beginning at 10 a.m., rides and games will do the same thing.Additionally, music stages will play acoustic sets with light amplification and public address systems will only be used for lost visitor announcements.

RALEIGH – With the drop in temperatures and power outages remaining a concern in across Western North Carolina, residents are urged not to use outdoor grills, generators and heating devices indoors as the results can be deadly.            

RALEIGH – Hurricane Helene not only flooded many areas, knocked out power and destroyed the possessions of thousands of homeowners and businesses in North Carolina, it may have washed away household termite protection as well, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said today.  

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services urges farmers and homeowners to evaluate pesticides and other chemical storage areas when cleaning up from Hurricane Helene.

With a little help from a forklift and a crane, some of the largest pumpkins and watermelons in the world were weighed in at the N.C. State Fair on Tuesday. Growers waited in anticipation to see if their giant would weigh more than the last. The winning entries will be on display in the Agri Supply Expo Center for fairgoers to see and photograph at the N.C. State Fair, Oct. 17-27.Tuesday’s weigh-in included the special competition sanctioned by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth and hosted by the N.C. State Fair. The competition is open to competitors from other states.

WHO/WHAT: Giant pumpkins and super-sized watermelons will settle the great debate on which is the largest when they hit the scales at the weigh-off for the N.C. State Fair Great Pumpkin/Watermelon competition. There are 22 pumpkins and 14 watermelons registered to enter the competition.WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15; Agri Supply Expo Center, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh