When folks think of the N.C. State Fair, one thing that comes to mind is the delicious food creations. The State Fair not only has various tasty treats to grab from vendors, but it also hosts food competitions! Throughout the entire duration of the fair is the Home Chef Challenge — a series of contests that showcase the talent of home chefs who are residents of North Carolina (no professionals, please).
Each day will feature a new theme for the challenge, reimagining a classic Southern dish. Some examples include Not Your Mama’s Pimento Cheese, You Had Me at Chiffon: Pie, Pig in a Pot: Crockpot and Ultimate Country Ham Biscuit. House of Raeford Farms, a chicken company locally owned and operated by the Johnson Beasley Family for four generations, is the proud sponsor of the Ain’t No Thing but a Chicken Wing Challenge.
House of Raeford manages two ready-to-cook processing operations in Rose Hill and Wallace. They also partner with local family farms in Duplin and surrounding counties to grow their chickens. Being based in North Carolina ensures House of Raeford’s commitment to quality. The eastern North Carolina weather conditions are conducive to raising birds in a comfortable environment. Additionally, corn and soybean meal (the primary ingredients for producing quality feed) are readily available. The company also has operations in South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana.
“The most important part of operating a business is the people who work every day to produce our chicken,” said Dave Witter, House of Raeford’s manager of corporate communications and sustainability. “Whether they are on a farm, hatching chickens, producing feed, or working in a processing facility, our North Carolina employees are the best in the state.”
House of Raeford sees the Home Chef Challenge as a way to expose its brand to North Carolina consumers who may or may not have purchased its products in the past. The chicken company is an integrator, meaning it controls the entire process of raising chickens — from breeding, hatching and feed production to processing and sales.
“Ain’t No Thing but a Chicken Wing provides a unique setting to showcase the nutritional value and affordability of chicken to the North Carolina consumer,” Witter said. “Our company produces a safe, nutritious and great-tasting product in partnership with local family farmers who dedicate their lives to growing chickens responsibly.”
House of Raeford’s mission, “To Do the Right Thing in All Things That We Do,” expresses its dedication to following its principles. The company believes in being a good corporate citizen and elevating the chicken industry by setting the standard for others.
“We achieve this by producing safe and nutritious products, taking proper care of our animals, being a responsible steward of the environment and treating our employees with dignity and respect,” Witter said. “Through our nonprofit organization FLOCK, we help those who are called to make a positive impact achieve even more.”
The State Fair and House of Raeford are looking forward to seeing the competitors drawn to the chicken wing competition. The great thing about chicken wing recipes is that there are endless cooking possibilities and flavor options — deep-fried, air-fried, baked, buffalo, barbecue, teriyaki, garlic parmesan and more. Chicken wings can be enjoyed at any time!
“Whether it’s tailgating at your favorite college football game, hosting an annual Super Bowl party, summer grilling with family and friends, or just an easy midweek meal or snack, chicken wings have a place on the menu,” Witter said. “We hope to see the contestants surprise us with something new this year.”
House of Raeford is excited to collaborate with the N.C. State Fair for Ain’t No Thing but a Chicken Wing. The State Fair has been a go-to place for North Carolinians for 156 years, and Witter is extremely impressed with its success.
“Because of the fair’s popularity, it makes sense for House of Raeford, a North Carolina-founded company, to partner in promoting the goodness of N.C. agriculture. Fairgoers who pass by our exhibit in Dorton Arena each year represent a great cross-section of the state’s population,” he said. “It’s exciting to see an event that brings so many people together to have fun and learn about N.C. agriculture.”
Sept. 15 is the deadline to enter all N.C. State Fair competitions, so if you’re interested in participating, be sure to submit your application today. All information on competitions can be found on the N.C. State Fair’s website under the “Competitions” tab.
Witter encourages all local home chefs to enter the Ain’t No Thing but a Chicken Wing Challenge.
“There’s something about the spirit of competition that brings out the best in those who specialize in cooking chicken wings,” he said. “Whether it’s the wing-cooking contest at the annual N.C. Poultry Jubilee in Rose Hill, the N.C. State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge, or a friendly rivalry with your neighbor, cooking wings is serious business. Bragging rights are the name of the game when it comes to creating the judges’ favorite, so come out and show us your skills!”