A little over a month ago I was finishing my sophomore year at UNC-Chapel Hill and preparing to spend another summer counseling campers and guarding lives at my neighborhood swim club. I didn’t mind; however, as I’d think about the long days outside in the scorching heat, I longed for a little AC just like I longed for the crispness of fall and all the great things I associated with it.
Many of my associations were pretty basic, ranging from all foods pumpkin-spiced to the changing color of the leaves. Yet, the No. 1 thing that came to my mind was the N.C. State Fair. For me, the State Fair has always been one of the highpoints of fall. The fair is one of my favorite events of the year, it’s the kickoff to months of celebrations, and it’s the perfect time to take a second to appreciate my home – North Carolina.
And, then like some sweet twist of fate, I found myself in the Public Affairs office at the Department of Agriculture, working as the N.C. State Fair public relations intern.
I’ve grown up with the fair, and some of my best memories were made at the fairgrounds. In terms of food, I always have to make a stop at the John Deere ice cream stand, and more recently the milk and cookies vendor has become a favorite. When it comes to the animals, I like to make the rounds, but as a child I would spend too much of my time and money at that old game where you’d bet on the hole the mouse would crawl through. Finally, as a self-professed adrenaline junkie, the rides have always been my favorite part of the fair. The vintage Crazy Mouse turned me into a thrill-seeker. That ride definitely lived up to its name. It was intense.
You’re sure to get the best view of the fairgrounds from the top of the Super Shot.
But as picking a fair-related pen name to blog under is one of the first orders of business here, I’ve settled on the name of my all-time favorite ride: the Super Shot. For just a few tickets you get your heart racing and one of the best views of the fairgrounds. Super Shot (aka, me, Sarah Crump) has dropped down and the shock still hasn’t worn off. Nonetheless, I am beyond thrilled to have the experience of working to promote one of the state’s best events.
In my 19 years of life, I’ve never lived too far away from the fairgrounds, and I have never missed a fair. My love for the fair has grown with each passing year, and I know my experiences as an intern this summer will only deepen my excitement for it. Three weeks in, I’ve already learned so much about the State Fair and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. I’ve written press releases and blog posts on events at the fairgrounds, helped work on a video to promote the Standard Division’s work to inspect grocery store scanners and scales, and started a grassroots advertising campaign targeting state high schools.
I’ve never been so involved in such a large event and I am beyond excited to be a part of, and work with, the Deep Fried Crew. I’ll be working to make sure you are all provided with everything you need to know about what’s currently happening at the fairgrounds and what will be happening at the 2015 N.C. State Fair this October. So stay tuned and I hope to make you all feel just as involved and ready for the excitement as I am.
