Dustin Turner | Cleveland County Fair | Press release Bailey Jackson stands next to her community mural at the Fair. | Courtesy photo. CLEVELAND COUNTY FAIR – Shelby resident Bailey Jackson is leaving her mark at this year’s 102nd Cleveland County Agricultural Fair. “I saw the Facebook post looking for someone to do a mural at the fair, and I just love the fair,” she said. “I’ve been going since I was a kid. I'm volunteering this year anyway, so I jumped at the chance.” As th

Cleveland County Agricultural Fair Returns Oct. 1-11, 2026 By Dustin Turner | Staff Reports | Cleveland County Fair The iconic Ferris Wheel scene from the 2025 Cleveland County Agricultural Fair. | Chuck Thompson Cleveland County Fairgrounds / SHELBY, N.C. – Fairgoers can enjoy a full day of unlimited rides for just $25 at the Cleveland County Agricultural Fair. Discounted ride bands are available now at SeeItInShelby.com and may be used any one day during the fair’s Oct.

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square Senate Democrats are withholding support unless Republicans push back SNAP cost-sharing requirements by at least two years. | Wix file photo National / AFFECTS LOCAL – American farmers, ranchers, and the agricultural industry will have to wait until at least September for the U.S. Senate to take up the long-delayed farm bill. “We’re going to come back in that first week and have another vote on the same bill again,” Senate Agriculture

Staff reports | Kings Mountain Hometown Farmers’ Market Kings Mountain – The Kings Mountain Hometown Farmers' Market will kick off the 2026 market season on Saturday, April 25 with a special Grand Opening event. The market will operate at 313 S. Battleground Avenue from 8 am until 12 noon every Saturday morning through September 26. The Grand Opening on April 25 will include an Earth Day celebration that will provide attractions and activities for market shoppers of all ages.

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Cleveland County Administrative Building | Chuck Thompson An alleged botched protocol after a bomb threat and a late county audit put County Manager David Cotton in the hot seat last Tuesday evening. The March Cleveland County Commissioners’ meeting was going as expected until during the public comments section, Angelica Haslam spoke to the commissioners about the prank bomb threat made to the county administration building,

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square North Carolina’s agriculture and agri-business economic impact is an estimated $111.1 billion annually. | The Shelby Independent file graphic (The Center Square) – Plausible reductions in agricultural exports because of retaliatory trade policies stemming from aggressive U.S. tariffs could cost North Carolina farmers $695 million, a new report says. Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman of N.C. State University, for the conservative-leaning John

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent 'the Beast' throws riders up in the air, hanging upside down over the weekend at The Cleveland...

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Seen here, one of the display hives at the Fair, in the Dorton Exhibit Hall. Chuck Thompson...

SHELBY — Since 1924, the Cleveland County Fair has brought families together to celebrate agriculture, community and fun. With livestock...

Crest High School FFA Veterinary Science CDE Team earned recognition as first place team in the southwest region at the NC FFA State Competition this past Saturday at Lee County High School.

By Jamie Bookwalter | Extension Specialist, Mountain Conifer IPM Forestry & Environmental Resources NC State Extension, NC State...

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“We have a rich agriculture heritage and as Charlotte moves toward us, we become more urban and less farmland..."