Agricultural fair season runs from August until late October in North Carolina. County and regional agricultural fairs across the stateand the State Fair in Raleigh will host about three million visitors during fair season. (The State Fair itself is scheduled for Oct. 15-25. Sept. 15 is the entry deadline for livestock competitions, and Sept. 25 is the deadline for family and consumer sciences competitions, and for general and special exhibits.) Many of the fairs depend heavily on county Extension centers for everything from leadership to elbow grease as they showcase agriculture and support local 4-H.
The first agricultural fairs, in the early 1800s, played a major role in publicizing advances in farm equipment. There was also a strong educational component to agricultural fairs from the outset, as they often gave many visitors their first-ever experience in a gallery or museum. That tradition has evolved but remains staunchly at the core of these fairs, as educational exhibits and demonstrations that demystify technology or enrich life skills are as much a part of the fairs as Ferris wheels and cotton candy.
SAES faculty, staff and students who find themselves among the three million visitors at one of North Carolina’s agricultural fairs in the next few weeks are encouraged to make time for a tour of the educational exhibits. If you come across an exhibit or demonstration that’s the handiwork of a member of The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T’s field staff and get a chance to compliment them on their work, please take advantage of the opportunity.
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