N.C. State Fair Entry Deadlines Approaching

With opening day for the N.C. State Fair a little more than a month away, the deadline for submitting entries for the competitive competitions is rapidly approaching. The Fair offers 41 competition departments featuring thousands of categories that allow participants a chance to showcase nearly every imaginable talent from crafting and hobbies to food preservation and floral arranging. More than $605,000 in premium money, a colorful array of ribbons and bragging rights are at stake.

Competitions are open to the public, and a completed entry form must be submitted to the N.C. State Fair Entry Department. Entry deadlines vary by category. The entry deadline for livestock competitions is Sept. 15.

Sept. 17 is the deadline for a number of categories: Agronomy, Forage, Flower& Garden, Horticulture, Arts & Photography, Bees & Honey, Poultry, Rabbits, 4-H, Culinary, Clothing, Home Furnishings, Handicrafts & Hobbies and Amateur and Commercial Wine. Certain categories are restricted to North Carolina 4-H and FFA members.

Participants can find rules, entry forms and guidelines for each competitive department and cooking contests in the 2007 North Carolina State Fair Premium Book. Entry fees vary by category. An online copy of the premium book is available at www.ncstatefair.org/2007a/Competitions/prebooks.htm

The N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 12 - 21 in Raleigh.