Since the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services lab is temporarily shut down to move to the new facility, we will be making some changes to the entry procedure this year. Since NCDA&CS has made arrangements with Cumberland Valley Analytical (CVAS) to perform forage analysis, we will utilize this lab for the hay show entries. The producer will need to submit the sample for analysis to CVAS. Please have them mark on the sample submittal form that it is an N.C. State Fair entry. CVAS is then sending the results for fair entries to NCDA&CS. The form, along with the letter from NCDA&CS that has instructions on submitting to CVAS, is attached. The producer will need to pay the cost to ship the sample to CVAS, but this should be about the same as the normal $10 fee that NCDA&CS charges.
Unfortunately, CVAS is not running nitrates with the basic analysis package. A second sample would need to be submitted in order to have nitrates run. We have elected to not include nitrates as part of the judging matrix for the 2021 State Fair. That component should return in 2022.
Producers will need to submit a physical sample to the fairgrounds for the visual component of the judging process. These samples need to be on the fairgrounds prior to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Someone from our team will be at the Jim Graham building to accept samples on Tuesday, October 12, and up until 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 13. Samples to be judged visually can also be mailed to the fairgrounds. Please mark the outside of the package with HAY or FORAGE. They can be mailed to:
N.C. State Fair Entry Office 1010 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
