FLETCHER, NC (July 24, 2018) — Entry deadlines are quickly approaching for several competitions at the 2018 N.C. Mountain State Fair. The 25th edition of the fair runs Sept. 7-16 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher.
“For 25 years, the N.C. Mountain State Fair has provided competitions for everyone from established farmers to 4-H students,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This year’s fair will offer nearly $400,000 in premium money in competitions ranging from livestock and horticulture to cooking contests and gospel singing.”
Friday, July 27, is the deadline for the gospel singing contest and cooking contests. The gospel singing competition will be held September 15 with contests for solo performers and groups. Space is limited to the first 10 solo entries and the first five group entries.
Cooking contests will be held daily throughout the fair. Nearly every contest is sponsored by a state commodity association, such as the N.C. Egg Association, N.C. Pork Council and N.C. Apple Growers Association. The only exception is the live Dutch Oven Cook-off held September 15, which is sponsored by the Mast General Store and Lodge Dutch Ovens.
In addition to gospel singing and cooking contests, the N.C. Mountain State Fair hosts competitions for livestock, clogging, art, photography, horticulture, preserved foods, flowers and more. The schedule for entry deadlines is as follows:
- July 27 – Cooking Competitions, Gospel Singing Contest
- August 3 – Llama/Alpaca, Clogging Championship (First Cutoff)
- August 8 – Rabbits
- August 10 – Livestock, Display Livestock
- August 24 – General Exhibits, Flower and Garden, Very Special Livestock Show
- August 26 – N.C. Mountain State Fair Pageant
- September 11 – Ice Cream Eating Contest
To stay up to date with a full list of competitions, upcoming deadlines and rules, visit www.wncagcenter.org/p/mountainstatefair/244. For questions regarding competitions, contact entry coordinator Tamara Crain at 828-687-1414, ext. 210.
The 25th N.C. Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 7-16 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. The fair’s silver anniversary will celebrate the people, agriculture, art and traditions of Western North Carolina. More information is available at www.mountainfair.org.