I know there are a variety of buildings dedicated to officials out at the fairgrounds -- Kerr Scott Building, Jim Graham Building, Jim Martin Building -- but I think a great opportunity has been missed.

Wouldn't it be easier if there were streets on the fairgrounds?

Oh, I'm not talking officially. I have no desire to see double yellow lines and traffic lights. But I'm thinking of the way areas of the fairgrounds are described. It's hard to give directions to different attractions and areas of the fair because you end up saying things like, "Take the path from Gate 11 west until you see the sign for the original ham biscuit."

And what an opportunity to honor some people. Wesley Wyatt, for example, who's been NC State Fair manager since 1997. His mother Charlotte Wyatt, who has been working at the Fair for 31 years and is retiring this year. Probably lots more people who have been integral to the Fair that I don't know about. Maybe even organizations that have been exhibiting and acting as vendors at the Fair for several years, like 4-H?

Maybe it's a silly idea. But I know that when I'm trying to describe to people where things are, I usually start by mentioning a road outside the fairgrounds, and a gate relative to that road, and go from there, trying to use landmarks like Dorton Arena. How much easier it would be if I could talk about starting on Wyatt Way, heading down Main Street, and taking 4-H Lane by the Graham Building!