A blue ribbon from the N.C. State Fair comes with great bragging rights, but you can't compete if you don't register with the State Fair entry office. The deadlines for competitions are approaching.

The State Fair now accepts some entries online as well as by paper. Entries for the following categories will be accepted by either method through Sept. 24: Forage, Flower & Garden, Horticulture, Arts & Photography, Bees & Honey, 4-H, Culinary, Clothing, Home Furnishings and Handicrafts & Hobbies. Poultry and Rabbit entries can be submitted online through Sept. 15. Online registrations upload directly to the State Fair Entry Department and exhibitors can add or delete entries until a category's deadline.

Other competition deadlines to remember are: Sept. 12 for the wine competition and Sept. 15 for the livestock competitions.

State Fair competitions are open to the public, and a completed entry form must be submitted to the N.C. State Fair Entry Department by 5 p.m. on the stated deadline dates. For more competition or Fair information, visit www.ncstatefair.org.

The N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 16-26 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.