Category: Fairgrounds Events

Say Hello to Wolf Tracks

Hi Everybody! I am Karsyn Westerbeek, but you can call me Wolf Tracks. I was born and raised in Warsaw, North Carolina but came to Raleigh for college. I attend N.C. State University where I am a rising senior. I am majoring in Communication with a minor in Business Administration, and I absolutely love it so far. In my spare time I play on my school’s club soccer team, hang out with friends, read and crochet. Fall is my favorite time of the year because not only is it football season (go Pack) but it’s also the time I get…

Continue Reading

David Ferrell and his John Deere green tractor takes Agri Supply Best of Show at the Got to Be NC Festival

Red, green, muscle, antique and more are just some of the tractors that take up a large footprint of the Got to Be NC Festival – drawing attention and admiration of festival goers that specifically come to the event to see the large display, and those that are drawn in during their visit. Each day the tractors and their owners lineup for the tractor parade – a signature event of the festival. This year, festival organizers named one tractor best of show and that honor was given to David Ferrell of Apex and his 1975 6030 John Deere tractor. Agri…

Continue Reading

Fairgrounds crew builds new skillet skee-ball game for GTBNC Festival

Skee-ball, skillets and fabricated fried eggs will combine for a fun new competition at this year’s Got to Be NC Festival. So, which came first, the skillet or the egg? Carolina Cooker and parent company Agri Supply, have long supported agriculture in this state, so when the State Fair team challenged themselves to dream up several new free activities for the Got to Be NC Festival’s Agri-Plaza in the Graham Building, the team dreamt up Skillet Skee-Ball, and Carolina Cooker jumped on board. Carolina Cooker is based in North Carolina and offers a variety of cookware from traditional cast iron…

Continue Reading

Two Jersey Cows Help Teach the Importance of Milk in the Southwest-Southland Dairy Mobile Classroom

Whether you are 5 or 95, everyone loves meeting Blanche or Maple, two Jersey cows, in the Mobile Dairy classroom presented by Southwest-Southland Dairy Farmers at the N.C. State Fair.  Blanche, who is two, around 800 pounds, and stares at you with the sweetest brown eyes, was the star attraction for the 10 a.m. presentation near the Graham Building when Judah, 7, and Levi, 6, attended the presentation with their grandparents, Mark and Kim Shelly, of Greensboro.  “Wow, Blanche eats and drinks a lot every day,” stated Judah as he stared at Blanche and reflected on what he had learned….

Continue Reading

Unique Candies by Hearn Pecan Farm

The Farm Family of the Day program recognizes 11 farm families – one for every day of the N.C. State Fair – who work hard every day to impact our state’s agriculture industry. Families either nominated themselves or were nominated by members of the community. Thanks to Tractor Supply Company for sponsoring the program, which will run from Oct. 13-23. Hearn Pecan Farm in Albemarle has more than 90 pecan trees at their farm, which has been in the Hearn family for four years. There are two generations of Hearns working the farm, with a third coming in February 2022….

Continue Reading

Our Favorite Holidays Provided by Smith’s Family Fun Farm

The Farm Family of the Day program recognizes 11 farm families – one for every day of the N.C. State Fair – who work hard every day to impact our state’s agriculture industry. Families either nominated themselves or were nominated by members of the community. Thanks to Tractor Supply Company for sponsoring the program, which will run from Oct. 13-23. Smith’s Family Fun Farm is a small operation located in Hillsborough. They grow pumpkins and Christmas trees, but they have recently expanded to include a pavilion and a coal-fired pizza oven. Smith’s Family Fun Farm was started in 1947 by…

Continue Reading

Historic church continues to provide a place for worship and service at the State Fair

Located just outside Heritage Circle and near the Village of Yesteryear sits a historic chapel that N.C. Campers on a Mission uses each year to minister to traveling fair workers and provide basic supplies. The chapel was originally used as the sanctuary of the Ephesus Baptist Church. The one-room wooden structure served Ephesus from 1857 to 1927, then transferred to Lincolnville, A.M.E. congregation and relocated to Nowell Road in Raleigh. The building served the congregation until 1982, when Lincolnville constructed a new building. In August of 1983, the chapel and original pews were purchased and moved to the fairgrounds to…

Continue Reading

N.C. Forest Service Conservation Forest – Newly expanded and fun for all ages

The N.C. Forest Service Conservation Forest at the State Fair is one of the lesser known, but most magical areas of the fairgrounds – a hidden gem, if you will. With the new entrance at Gate 7, where shuttle riders from the Cardinal lot will be dropped off, we wanted to introduce fairgoers to what you can see and do in the area. Fairgoers can access the free Cardinal parking lot off Highway 54. Once parked, hop on the free shuttle that will take you to Gate 7. Once inside the gate, you can follow the paved path up the…

Continue Reading

A Century with R.E. Miller, Jr. & Sons, Inc.

The Farm Family of the Day program recognizes 11 farm families – one for every day of the N.C. State Fair – who work hard every day to impact our state’s agriculture industry. Families either nominated themselves or were nominated by members of the community. Thanks to Tractor Supply Company for sponsoring the program, which will run from Oct. 13-23. R.E. Miller, Jr. & Sons, Inc. – aka Miller Farms – is in Gates County. Miller Farms is a recognized Century Farm. Currently, the sixth and seventh generations are operating Miller Farms. With 6,300 acres of farmland, Miller Farms grows…

Continue Reading

Brian Sobaski brings straw to life in front of your eyes

Brian Sobaski is bringing some unique art to the N.C. State Fair in 2022 – something you’ve probably never seen. He’s creating straw sculptures of animals, and you can watch him at work three times a day during the fair. You’ll find him beside the breezeway outside the Agri Supply Expo Center. This is the first time Sobaski has ever created his works of art while an audience is watching. He usually creates straw sculptures before an event and leaves them to be viewed after he’s gone. While he’s a bit shy naturally, he’ll happily answer questions as he works…

Continue Reading