Press Releases

Submit soil samples now to avoid delays and peak-season fees

As we head into cooler weather, fall is the best time to amend your lawns, especially fescue lawns and landscape areas, with lime and fertilizer and to start fall vegetable gardens. 

926,425 people attended the 2023 N.C. State Fair

The 2023 N.C. State Fair ended its 11-day run with a strong final weekend
that pushed total attendance to 926,425. Other fair highlights included a new auction record for
the Livestock Sale of Champions and strong participation for Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief

Durham man bookends wins in the State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge, with top prize in the Nahunta Pork Center’s Not Your Mama’s Sausage Ball Challenge

John Tyler Moore of Durham wrapped up the State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge series
with 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.

Triangle woman’s Curry Chicken Salad wins “Summer Salad of the South: Kickin' Chicken Salad Challenge” at the N.C. State Fair

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.

Carolina Beach woman wins Let’s Get Cheesy: Mac-n-Cheese Challenge with Mema’s Mac & Cheese

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.

Savannah Ranson wins Carnitas Street Taco Challenge with her Blue Corn Carnitas Street Tacos

Savannah Ranson of Raleigh placed first in the Carnitas Street Taco Challenge
presented by Smithfield Foods. Her Blue Corn Carnitas Street Tacos won her the blue ribbon and
a prize of $500.

Taylor Weber wins her first Home Chef Challenge in Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie Challenge

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.

Knightdale woman wins MREs in ‘23: Make-Ahead Lunch Challenge with sweet potato beef taco skillet

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 a
recipe for sweet potato beef taco skillet.

Raleigh’s Shenita Pelham wins N.C. State Fair’s banana pudding Home Chef Challenge with her “Boozie Banana Pudding Cheesecake”

Shenita Arvia Pelham of Raleigh earned the top spot and $500 in prize money in the State Fair’s “Down Home Dessert: Banana Pudding Challenge” presented by Ambetter Health of North Carolina. Pelham, a native of Biscoe, served up her “Boozie Banana Pudding Cheesecake” for the win.

Strawberry Lemonade-inspired triple layer cake wins N.C. State Fair Luscious Layer Cake Home Chef Challenge

Habeebah Hasan of Durham placed first and won $500 in the N.C. State Fair Luscious