This is Brian from the NCCU Orientation and First-Year Experience office with a special post to the NCCU First-Year Blog. As a native of the Triangle area, I grew up going to the North Carolina State Fair every year. And I mean every year. I've been saving my pennies this summer eagerly awaiting the fall to arrive and the smell of corn dogs and deep-fried everything to fill the air once again. Now, here at NCCU, we have students from NC, New York, Maryland, Bermuda, and a ton of other locations throughout the states and the world. But, I'm here to say that no matter whether you're a new or old "North Carolinian," you must experience the timeless tradition of the North Carolina State Fair!The NC State Fair '09 is coming on October 15-25, and boy am I "happy?" Sure, during your first year of college, you fear the infamous "freshman 15." But, next month, when October 15 comes around, take some time to attend the State Fair and chow down. I remember the first time I tried the deep-friend Snickers bar. Wow. It will definitely make your taste buds "A Whole Lotta Happy!" Just make sure to prepare to visit the fitness center in the NCCU Walker Complex a few extra times in October to make up for all the funnel cakes and fudge.
Growing up, I'm not sure why, but my favorite part about the NC State Fair were the pig races. I always wanted to watch them 3-4 times per day. Each pig had a number 1-4, and the audience sat in a section labeled with each of the numbers. To a young child, it was so exciting to see four pigs racing around a track while hundreds of people cheer them on! Whatever yummy treat they place at the end of that track, the pigs MUST LOVE IT. Betcha it's a deep-fried oreo (haven't tried those yet; but I think 2009 is the time).
Nowadays, my favorite part of the NC State Fair is playing the games on the Midway with my wife. 
She's super-competitive, which I love, and it's always fun for us to spend dollar after dollar competing with each other for stuffed animals that our dogs later tear to pieces. I'll never forget the day we got home from work, and Kermit was missing his legs. Tragic.
The part of the Fair that I've never attended is a Dorton Arena show. This year's shows sound like a lot of fun. In particular, I am a self-admitted American Idol fan. I also grew up in Chapel Hill, and went to the same high school as one of this year's performers, Anoop Desai (although I'm way older and don't know him personally). $5 to see him perform? Man, that's a deal! (My personal favorite contestant from American Idol, season 8, was Allison though. Sorry Anoop, you're still my "dawg," as Randy Jackson would say.)
The reason for this blog is that the NC State Fair makes me "happy." It's a NC tradition. And it exhibits everything that is great about the state of North Carolina. Where else can you go 
through a haunted mansion, eat a deep fried candy bar, learn about North Carolina agriculture, and also help the state's hunger-relief cause all in one day? Nowhere other than the NC State Fair.
I hope that all NCCU students will take some time to experience the State Fair this year. Always make sure to be safe and travel with a group of friends. And just be sure to make it an educational experience. Sure, you must try a taste of those deep-friend Snickers (pictured above; makes your stomach happy, huh?). But also embrace your time at the State Fair as a way to learn about all the great state of North Carolina has to offer. Trust me, even if the pig races and Midway games aren't your favorite things, there will be something at the 2009 NC State Fair to make you "A Whole Lotta Happy!"
If chosen as the 2009 Deep Friend Ambassador, the NCCU Office of Orientation and First-Year Experience will search the campus for an NCCU student who has never experienced the NC State fair before. How great would it be for one of our awesome new Eagles to blog about the Fair on our NCCU First-Year Blogging site?!?
