Meet the Superintendent: Daniel Danford

Every year at the State Fair, there are hundreds of different competitions to enter. Each category of competitions is managed by its own superintendent. This year, the Flower and Garden Show has a new superintendent in charge and his name is Daniel Danford. Daniel and his friend Ashlyn riding the Ferris wheel at the N.C. State Fair. In addition to the Flower Show, Daniel enjoys rides like roller coasters and the Ferris Wheel and the horticulture exhibits including the giant pumpkins and watermelons. Danford has been working at the flower and garden show for about eight years as an assistant…

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Everything’s coming up roses

In Harold White’s garden, everything is coming up roses. White has perfected the art of rose gardening, and he has a slew of blue ribbons to prove it. The Durham gardener, 84, began growing roses as a child and has entered his prize-winning flowers for the past 15 years at the N.C. State Fair. Despite his lifelong experience, winning at the fair hasn’t always been easy. “The first time I exhibited, I won precisely nothing. I had no idea what I was doing,” he said. Bringing home a ribbon takes more than just luck, especially with roses. The rose can…

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Flower show in-the-know workshop Sept. 19

So last year you walked through the Flower Show area during the N.C. State Fair and surveyed the competition. And you thought, “wait a second, I’ve got flowers that look as good as these,” or you questioned, “Why one plant won a blue ribbon versus a second-place red ribbon?” This all got you thinking that it would be fun to enter the flower show competition. So here’s a reminder that is not too late to enter this year. Exhibitors for the flower show actually have until Oct. 2 to pre-register for the competition.

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