2007 N.C. State Fair premium book now available

RALEIGH – Jodi Riedel says she isn’t a competitive person by nature. Yet as soon as the themes for the N.C. State Fair garden competition are announced, she throws herself into a frenzy of planning and planting.

Riedel, a horticulture teacher at Wakefield High School, supervises about 30 student members of the FFA. The group has produced a first-place garden in the State Fair garden competition for high schools the past two years, and hopes to repeat that success. As soon as the themes are announced each year, the group meets to brainstorm ideas for its garden.

“We take the theme, and then we do our own spin-off theme,” Riedel said. In 2006, her students improvised a Wizard of Oz theme from the suggested “Rainbow Rhapsody” category.

In addition to the garden categories, the N.C. State Fair competitions involve a wide variety of interests including Lego building, cake decorating, rubber stamping, photography and more. One new change for 2007 is an earlier deadline for entries in all departments except livestock. Forms and fees in these departments must be turned in no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17. Other deadlines and details can be found in the premium book.

The book is essential to competitors interested in the State Fair, and is available online at www.ncstatefair.org or at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Those who wish to receive the book by mail can call (919) 821-7400 and expect it to arrive in late July.

Riedel said her students’ enthusiasm and pride always surprise her. They anxiously await the new themes and often boast to their friends about their experiences at the Fair. The group plans to enter a garden under “Tea Party for Two,” a category open to all ages, and hopes to modify their entry into an Alice in Wonderland tea party garden.

The premium book features a complete list of all competitions, along with deadlines, guidelines, rules and categories. The N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 12 – 21.

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