- For many families from western North Carolina, this year’s state fair could be a much-needed bright spot in the midst of hardship.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler spoke on Monday about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and its potential impact on the upcoming 2024 NC State Fair, which opened on October 17 and runs through October 27.
Across the state, 4-H youth have been preparing all year to showcase their animals at the fair. Additionally, agricultural commodities such as apples, which come from the western part of the state, are a staple of the event. However, the devastation caused by Helene has left many wondering how this annual tradition might be affected for these families.
Concerns are growing about whether 4-H participants from the storm-hit areas will be able to attend the fair. A more pressing question for many is whether their animals have survived. Furthermore, the impact on key crops like apples in western North Carolina remains uncertain.
“I’ve been visiting communities in Western North Carolina to reassure people that they are not forgotten,” said Troxler during a press conference. “There are many who are rallying to support them, including the NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA&CS).”
Troxler stressed that recovery from Helene will be a long-term effort. While there is often an initial surge of support in the wake of a natural disaster, aid tends to decrease after a few months. Western North Carolina, he noted, will need sustained help.
The NCDA&CS is deeply involved in disaster relief, with every division playing a role. Efforts range from providing emergency shelter and co-sheltering people with their pets at the Western North Carolina Ag Center to delivering USDA food for mass feeding programs. The department is also supporting livestock producers by providing emergency fencing, feed, and water, as well as assisting with road clearings and coordinating incident management.
Fairgoers can contribute to the recovery efforts through a donation tab on the NC State Fair website when purchasing their tickets. Proceeds will go to the MANNA FoodBank of Asheville, which lost its distribution warehouse during Hurricane Helene. This option allows people to easily donate while buying their tickets, with a “State Fair Cares” box appearing at checkout.
The MANNA FoodBank has temporarily relocated to the Western NC Farmers Market and continues to distribute to over 200 partner agencies. In previous years, MANNA has benefited from the Mountain State Fair’s annual canned food drives, where attendees donate canned goods in exchange for free admission. A similar fundraiser was held in 2018 after Hurricane Florence, with donations going to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.
This year’s “Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day” will take place on October 24. Fairgoers who bring six cans of food will receive free admission, and all donations will go to support Helene relief efforts in western North Carolina. More information on what food items to bring can be found here.
“We won’t know the full impact of Helene on the NC State Fair for a few more days,” said Troxler. “Several livestock exhibitors from the western part of the state may not be able to attend.”
Nevertheless, some 4-H agents are going above and beyond to ensure that their youth can participate. “These youth have worked hard on their animals, and the fair offers them a sense of normalcy that’s been missing in their lives recently,” Troxler added.
For many families from western North Carolina, this year’s state fair could be a much-needed bright spot in the midst of hardship.
“We had our Market Turkey Show last week,” Troxler shared. “One family from Ashe County brought their children to the fair even though they’d been without power for 11 days. These kids were able to show the turkeys they raised all summer. They may not have been grand champions, but they made lifelong memories.”
So far, the NCDA&CS has not heard of any vendors who are unable to attend. However, Troxler noted that the horticulture section will look a little different this year. “We’ll have only one apple grower, and pumpkins may be fewer in number and smaller than usual due to challenging growing conditions,” he said.