FLETCHER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina officials highlighted safety measures Thursday ahead of the N.C. Mountain State Fair, stressing ride inspections, law enforcement coordination and public health precautions as thousands prepare to attend the 10-day event.

Labor Commissioner Luke Farley joined Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and other state and local leaders at a news conference at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, where the fair opens Friday.

Troxler said safety remains the fair’s top priority each year, noting that preparations stretch year-round and rely on cooperation among agencies and visitors alike. “We want everybody to come out and enjoy,” Troxler said. “But most of all, we want everybody to be safe and go home in the same shape that they came in.”

Farley, whose agency oversees ride inspections, said his department deployed nine inspectors ahead of the fair and has logged more than 160 hours reviewing 35 rides. Two inspectors will remain on site daily throughout the event.

“Our state has the strictest ride inspection program in the country,” Farley said. “I’d put my own children on any of these rides.”

The safety briefing also underscored lessons learned since Tropical Storm Helene struck Western North Carolina a year ago, when the agricultural center served as a shelter and staging ground for response efforts. Farley called the fair’s return “a testament to the resilience of Western North Carolina.”

Other speakers included State Bureau of Investigation Director Roger E. “Chip” Hawley, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, Forest Service officials and representatives from Skyland Fire and Rescue. Together, they emphasized traffic management, law enforcement coordination and emergency medical readiness.

Department of Agriculture officials said animal exhibits will follow strict protocols under Aedin’s Law, including mandatory hand-washing stations and veterinary checks.

“This is truly a team effort,” said Glen Coley of the N.C. Forest Service. “From the roadways to the gates to the fairgrounds, every agency is working to make sure this is a safe and family-friendly event.”

The Mountain State Fair runs Sept. 5-14 at the WNC Agricultural Center, featuring rides, agricultural exhibits, crafts, music and food.