The Children’s Barnyard works with Wake County schools to provide agricultural experience

The roots of the North Carolina State Fair are in agriculture. Of course, good eats, thrilling rides and games grab a lot of attention, but our state would not be the great place it is without our farmers! Daniel Beasley, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Rolesville High School, sees the importance of agriculture every day and aims to teach his students about the importance of the industry. “Being involved in agriculture shows kids the compassion that it takes to care for an animal that needs them and how to do it properly. More than anything it is knowing that…

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Students participate in fowl play at the State FFA Poultry Judging Contest

FFA students from across the state recently came to Raleigh to participate in “fowl play” by competing in the State FFA Poultry Judging Competition. A record 88 teams competed at the contest this year. The event’s purpose is to encourage students to learn more about the poultry industry in the areas of production and management, processing, marketing and consumption of poultry products. Youth prepare months in advance for the big day at the state contest by studying, practicing and soaking up all the knowledge they can so they can be successful in all parts of competition. There are nine sections to…

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NC State Fair Livestock Scholarship Program Helps Fund FFA Livestock Judging Contest

Following is a guest post from Marisa Linton. Marisa grew up showing and raising livestock, and currently lives on her family’s small farm in Mount Olive. She has shown animals at the N.C. State Fair for 14 years and is a past youth livestock scholarship recipient. She is an N.C. State University graduate, agricultural photographer and blogger. The N.C. State Fair Livestock Scholarship Program provides more than scholarships for college students. It also provides funds for youth competing in 4-H and FFA livestock events throughout the year and across the state. The FFA livestock judging competition is one such an…

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Anniversary quilt at the N.C. Museum of History

As the 2013 N.C. State Fair wrapped up, a special commemorative quilt created to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the first fair moved to a temporary new home at the N.C. Museum of History. FFA and 4-H chapters from 36 counties submitted quilt squares for the project, and quilting volunteers and attendees at the N.C. State Fair this year helped sew the squares together in the Village of Yesteryear. Lisa McCarty of Clayton, Carol Ditto of Garner and Jane Pace of Archer Lodge pieced the squares together by making the top of the quilt and then putting it on the quilt…

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