N.C. Forest Service

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

Sweet Corn October 19 October 19

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…

Tucked into a forest, new fairgrounds building highlights natural resources & conservation

Tractor Pull October 11 November 2

There’s a new building on the fairgrounds for 2021, and a unique element of its design could have you staring at the walls. The new building will generally be called the Natural Resources Center. It’s tucked away in the wooded area in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds, which is called the N.C. State Fair Conservation forest. In 2021, the forest is sponsored by Enviva. The area is behind the flower and garden show and Heritage Circle. That’s the area where you can find the sawmill demonstration and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. It’s also where you find Smokey Bear,…

The bear, the myth, the legend: An interview with Smokey Bear

Teacup September 20 September 21

Smokey, how did you become an icon for wildfire prevention? The idea for wildfire prevention started in the spring of 1942 during World War II. People were afraid they would start wildfires, and with so many off fighting the war, there were only a few folks left to battle the fires at home. The idea was to prevent as many wildfires as possible, so the Forest Service started the campaign with posters that read, “Forest Fires Aid the Enemy” and “Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon.’’ In 1944, Disney gave them permission to use characters from the film “Bambi” for one…

10 fun STEM activities for kids at the State Fair

Super Shot October 11 October 13

Learn about the important role bees and pollinators play in producing our food. The Bee Exhibit in the Expo Building features beekeepers and an active beehive on display.

Shhhh… don’t tell the kids! The State Fair is more than fun, it’s also educational. Check out out Top 10 activities to participate in science, technology, engineering and math-oriented (STEM) activities at the fair, Oct. 13-23. 1. The brink floater mussel is the Wildlife Resources Commission’s featured species of the year, and fairgoers can see these freshwater mussels up close to learn more about these invertebrates and their importance to freshwater ecosystems. The exhibit is located near the Village of Yesteryear and the Children’s Barnyard. 2. Stop by the tobacco barn in Heritage Circle to see how tobacco leaves were…

Take a trip to the Forestry Exhibit at the N.C. State Fair

Bearded Lady October 12 October 12

What do helicopters, Bambi and fire plows have in common? They’re all part of the revamped forestry exhibit at the N.C. State Fair. Visitors entering through Gate 8 will probably notice the bright yellow helicopter in the middle of the lake. The location, formally the site of the fireworks launchpad, is now the landing pad for a variety of forestry vehicles and equipment. Kids can see what it’s like inside the cockpit of a decommissioned helicopter, see a Bambi Bucket that can pick up nearly 240 gallons of water and get an up-close look at a giant, bulldozer-looking vehicle called…

The bear went over the mountain…

Bearded Lady October 22 October 21

You don’t have to go over a mountain to see some of the best exhibits at the fair. You just have to go “up the hill.” If you’ve never been up the hill from the lake, then you’ve missed a special portion of the N.C. State Fair. The area located near Heritage Circle is full of exhibits from the N.C. Forest Service and Division of Soil and Water Conservation. The most recognizable display on the hill is a giant, talking Smokey Bear. Children love interacting with Smokey and asking him questions. Other N.C. Forest Service exhibits provide useful information on…

Deep Fried Triangle Tweetup Recap

Bearded Lady October 14 October 14

We had a great time last night hanging out with more than 100 of our social media followers at the Deep Fried Triangle Tweetup. We hope everyone had fun creating origami Twitter birds, sharing their State Fair memories, learning how to yo-yo, sampling Deep Fried Kool-Aid and House-Autry Mills hushpuppies and posing on our red carpet during the event. We’d like to send a special thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors who made the event such a success. Thanks to Susan Hansen from the Village of Yesteryear, Lisa Gregory with Blue Ribbon Memories, The Amazing Arthur Fratelli, Smokey Bear and…

Tag: N.C. Forest Service