NC State Helps Serve Up Fare at the Fair

By Chad Austin, News Services 

Ferris wheels and funnel cakes can provide plenty of fun at the North Carolina State Fair, which begins its 11-day run in Raleigh today. But if you need a break from the rides, games and fried food while you're at the fair, there are plenty of educational activities to take in, many of which involve the work of NC State's faculty, staff and students. 

So if you've ever wondered how milk goes from the cow to the carton, you can find out, ahem, firsthand. Fairgoers can also learn about all sorts of livestock and farm animals, and even enjoy some fair food favorites, courtesy of NC State. 

Mmm, Steaks!

Get a tasty rib-eye steak sandwich for $6.

Although fried foods are a staple of the state fair, members of NC State's animal science club serve up some of the fair's best steak sandwiches hot off the grill at the N.C. Cattlemen's Steak House booth. Located outside the Jim Graham Building, the "little red booth" is a popular attraction during the fair, where fairgoers can get a rib-eye steak sandwich for $6.

"There are a lot of beef lovers out there, and we tend to get a sizeable percentage of satisfied customers that come back," says Dale Miller, faculty advisor to the animal science club. "For years, we've had people say this is the best sandwich they can get on the fairgrounds."

Students from the club work the booth each day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., cooking, taking orders, making sandwiches and cleaning up after each shift. The cattlemen's association donates all the food and equipment to run the booth, which provides exposure for the association and raises funds for the club.

Step Inside the Ark

See mules and other farm animals at the State Fair Ark.

After devouring your steak sandwich, step inside the Jim Graham Building to take in some of the livestock shows, where animal science club members serve as ringmasters during the competitions. From there, walk across the way to the Expo Center which houses the State Fair Ark, where more than 60 animals representing North Carolina's diverse livestock population are on display.

Inside the Ark, fairgoers can see and learn about cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys and many other breeds of farm animals raised in North Carolina. Animal science club members work around the clock at the Ark, where students put what they're learning in the classroom into practice by caring for the animals, maintaining and cleaning the exhibit, and answering questions about the livestock from thousands of visitors.
The Ark isn't a petting zoo, however, so club members also try to keep the spectators a safe distance away from the animals. Or vice versa.

"After 10 days at the fair, many of the animals want to be petted," says Gary Gregory, another faculty advisor to the animal science club. "It's about as much trouble keeping the animals away from the people as it is keeping people away from the animals."

Pick Up 'Chicks'

Hold a chick at the poultry tent.

If you just can't resist reaching out and touching the animals at the Ark, then find your way to the poultry exhibition tent behind the Graham Building where NC State's poultry science club has a free, hands-on exhibit where fairgoers can pick up baby chickens, poults (baby turkeys) and ducklings.

Poultry science students work the tent daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., caring for the 40 or so small chicks at the exhibit and helping the children handle them safely. They can also answer questions from adults about the poultry industry and often wind up helping the big kids pick up the chicks, as well.

"The fuzzy factor makes them attractive to children," says Lynn Worley-Davis, faculty advisor to the club. "They're cute, small and easy to handle, so many of the parents end up holding them as well."

Got Milk?

Try your hand at milking a cow at the popular milking booth.

Milk still does a body good, like the old commercial says, but the animal science club's cow milking booth gives new meaning to the phrase, "Got Milk?"

For $2, patrons can try their hand at milking a cow and afterward enjoy a carton of milk made from NC State's own dairy farm. Club members help these aspiring dairy farmers with the proper milking technique and answer their questions about the dairy industry.

"Invariably, we get the question, 'Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?'" Miller says. "That's probably the most commonly asked question."

From children?

"Surprisingly even from a few adults," Miller says with a laugh.

If you want to try your hand at milking a cow, it's best to come early. The popular booth had close to 10,000 visitors during last year's fair, and lines get longer as the day goes on. The booth is located inside the Expo Center and is open from noon to 9 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.

I Scream, You Scream....

NC State ice cream is a cool treat at the State Fair.

We all scream for ice cream. Your trip to the State Fair wouldn't be complete without some sweet treats, and one of the best bangs for your buck is the NC State ice cream booth, located near the Hobbies and Crafts Building.

Sponsored by the Department of Food Science, booth workers serve up generous portions of NC State's very own ice cream in a variety of flavors, which are made on campus at the dairy plant in Schaub Hall.

"We've always had a high demand for our products," says Gary Cartwright, coordinator of pilot plants in the food science department. "We get inundated (with requests for ice cream) after the State Fair."

Like the vast array of midway rides and games, there are plenty more activities involving NC State faculty, staff and students to keep you busy at the State Fair, like exhibits on turfgrass, gardening, sustainability and honey bees. So while you're at the fair this year, be sure to feed your mind as well as your appetite. And be sure to ask the folks at the milking booth where chocolate milk comes from.

Related Links

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• North Carolina State Fair