The state's largest sweet potato, which weighs in at 19 pounds, and a 282-pound watermelon, among other elephant-sized produce, are on display in the State Fair's Exposition Building.

The North Carolina Pork Council's Tarheel Pork Bacon! Challenge produced some popular winners.

Bill Jordan from WRAL-FM and Adam and Joe from 99.9 FM The Fan sampled the state fair quiche winning recipes.

"The Fried Man" talks about what new deep fried items are available at the N.C. State Fair.

The Ragin Cajun booth at the N.C. State Fair offers deep fried alligator on a stick.

WRAL News anchor Jackie Hyland learned that if you can fry it, you can eat it at the North Carolina State Fair. But she tried a different sort of treat on Thursday -- a cupcake masquerading as a hot dog.

Started in 1853 as a showcase for North Carolina agriculture, arts and crafts, the fair has also become a yearly destination for hundreds of thousands of people looking to play games and enjoy eyebrow-raising food, like deep-fried brownies and chicken pot pies.

Noah Guthrie, 9, made a Triple Chocolate Pie that won the Pillsbury Pet-Ritz Pie Baking Championship.

“I'll tell you, this town right here, I've never seen so many people eat turkey legs,” said vendor Shane Snedeker.

Betty Buchanan, also known as "Memaw," is known for making the State Fair's "best biscuits."

WRAL's Brian Shrader gets a taste of the winning dishes in the N.C. Pecan Association Pecan Recipe Competition at the State Fair.

A man's pork and cheese empanada wins the Tar Heel Pork Challenge for the top pork recipe at the State Fair.

An Apex woman won the blue ribbon in the eggs-in-desserts contest at the State Fair for her carrot cake recipe.

The Apple Growers Association sponsored a contest for the top dishes that include apples.

The workers at the Veggie Patch stand at the N.C. State Fair give their secret to creating such an addictive product.

Chefs share the recipes that won the KC Masterpiece and sweet potato cooking contests.

WRAL's Brian Shrader samples the winners of the House-Autry Mills "Southern Fried Classic" recipe contest

Deep-fried food fans, rejoice. The 2010 North Carolina State Fair kicked off Thursday afternoon. Stars of the Fair include the Krispy Kreme burger and more rides than any other fair on the continent.

A Krispy Kreme hamburger - packing two glazed doughnuts and up to 1,000 calories - is among the deep-fried treats at the North Carolina State Fair.

Deep fried honey buns and Krispy Kreme doughnut hamburgers are some of the new food items being sold at this year's N.C. State Fair.

A Youngsville woman took home four blue ribbons and got recognition for her culinary flair at the North Carolina State Fair this year.

Brian Shrader and nutritionist Tara Wind take a look at what to eat and what not to eat at the state fair.

WRAL's Brian Shrader samples the winning apple recipes at the State Fair.

Chocolate-covered bacon, deep-fried pickles and funnel cakes are only a few of the sweet foods that tempt visitors to the N.C. State Fair.

Some cooks labor all year towards a State Fair ribbon. Brian Shrader and friends sampled some of the winners Friday.