Source: NCDA&CS, 8/19/15

Time is running out to take advantage of the N.C. Mountain State Fair’s free Pony Express service, which transports competition entries from Cooperative Extension offices located in outlying counties to the WNC Agricultural Center. Deadline for submission is Monday, Aug. 24.

“The Pony Express is a great collaboration between the N.C. Mountain State Fair and Cooperative Extension,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “It saves families in our outlying counties time and money, and is a great way to ensure the competitive entries represent all of Western North Carolina.”

The Pony Express is offered in Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga and Yancey counties, as well as on the Cherokee Reservation. Entries can be dropped off on or before Aug. 24 at each county’s Cooperative Extension office. 

To enter, competitors should bring their non-perishable items wrapped and packed securely for transport. A completed entry form should be included inside the packaging, and the competitor’s name and county should be clearly labeled. Items will remain on display for the duration of the 2015 N.C. Mountain State Fair. Following the fair, all items will be returned to local extension offices by Sept. 25. Any prize money received will be mailed directly to the competitor.

While the deadline for livestock and cooking contests has passed, there is still time to enter many of the fair’s competitions, including those in the art, preserved foods, and flower and garden categories. For more information and to submit your entry form online, go to http://bit.ly/1MxVNw2.

The 2015 N.C. Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 11-20 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. Advance tickets are now available at area Ingles stores, the WNC Agricultural Center and the WNC Farmers Market. Fairgoers can save $2 on gate admission tickets and 50 percent on ride tickets by purchasing in advance. More information about the fair is available at www.mountainfair.org.