The North Carolina State Fair is a ten-day annual event running October 11
th-21
st and is located in Raleigh. The fair brings people from all over North Carolina to Raleigh, and provides many opportunities for our members to get involved in service to agriculture. Our main fundraising opportunity during the fair is through the North Carolina Pork Council. The Fundraising Committee began preparing for the fundraiser in September. On September 19
th, a representative from the Pork Council spoke with the brotherhood about expectations for working at The Pork Chop Shop. She discussed how shifts would work as well as sanitation measures. The committee then sent out a Google Spreadsheet with shift times so that brothers could sign up for shifts. Throughout the week of the fair, 33 brothers and one alumni volunteered their time to work at least one five hour shift. During that time, brothers took food orders, prepared plates, operated cash registers, washed dishes, and helped keep the dining area clean. North Carolina is second in leading swine production in the United States and the North Carolina Pork Council is a long-time industry friend of Alpha Zeta. The Pork Chop Shop is a great way for our chapter to promote and serve the swine industry in North Carolina. The event was also a great way to meet people who are involved in all aspects of agriculture, both customers as well as other friends of the Pork Council people with whom we worked. This year, brothers enjoyed meeting and talking with the state Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler when he came by for a meal at the Pork Chop Shop. After the Pork Council totaled profits, Alpha Zeta was given a monetary donation for our services.