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At the Animal Science Club Milking Booth at the North Carolina State Fair, William Haigler, a freshman in agriculture science, helps Katie Griffith of Wadesboro milk a cow on Saturday. Haigler said that the booth gives kids an experience they don't have in the city. "We're just trying to show kids what goes on as far as livestock and the dairy industry in general," he said. Photo by Matt Moore
The N.C. State fair ended Sunday after a successful week regardless of the economy.
According to Taylor Balick, junior in chemical engineering, the state fair seemed to be a boost to the local economy.
“The state fair definitely brings a lot of attention to Raleigh and does a good job of bringing people into town,” Balick said. “Even though people do not have a lot of spending money, they bring what they have and they spend most of it. A lot of the small businesses have already bought their supplies so they end up with pure profit.”
Sheila Beaver, owner of a funnel cake stand said despite the threat the economy posed, business sales were not significantly affected.
“We are the oldest funnel cake stand at the North Carolina State Fair. We have been doing this for 40 plus years,” Beaver said. “It is originally a Pennsylvania-Dutch treat and when we first introduced it to the south people asked if we were selling fried worms or pig intestines.”
Beaver said that through their extensive participation in the fair they have developed a strong clientele.
“One of the reasons we were not as affected by the economy is that we have so many regular customers,” Beaver said. “Actually the weather was more of an issue than the economy, as was the alterations to the layout of the fair because customers had difficulty finding us.”
As well as the alterations to the fair layout Jaclyn Black, junior in English education, said she noticed small changes to the attractions available.
“Last year I paid two dollars to see an abnormally small lady,” Black said. “I felt so bad because she was real and she obviously knew we were paying to watch her. She was not there this year though.”
Black said the addition of chocolate covered bacon was not the only unexpected change she noticed.
“Apparently the ferris wheel was held together by zip-ties,” Black said. “It was kind of unsettling when I noticed.”
Jordan Lawrence, an East Carolina Alum, said he was more perturbed by the size of the ferris wheel than its safety.
“This is not my first time at the fair and I was a little disappointed that the ferris wheel was so much smaller this year,” Lawrence said. “It was definitely still worth the effort to come.”
Wil Maney, junior in history, said his favorite part of the fair was the concert series.
“Eric Church was really fun,” Maney said. “Even with a broken foot he was better than 99.9% of the country music stars today, crippled.”
According to Annie Kinney, a junior in history at Duke University, the trip to the fair was well worth it.
“It was so much fun I came twice this week,” Kinney said. “I learned a lot too, apparently pumpkin seeds are worth a lot of money. It is always a good time.”