RALEIGH--- There is no questioning the immense talent that North Carolina houses. And this year, Our State and Mast General Store are joining forces again for the Made in NC Awards. In the competition's second year, products made in the Tar Heel state will be placed into four categories: 

  • Food & Drink: Sweet, Savory, Sauces, Spreads, Condiments
  • Style: Jewelry, Apparel, Outerwear, Accessories
  • Art: Paper, Pottery, Glass, Fabric, Wood, Metal, Other
  • Home & Garden: Furniture, Toys, Games, Hobby/Recreation, Skincare, Home Décor, Tools for home or garden, Kitchenware
Last year, Our State writer and senior editor Jeremy Markovich says more than 400 products were submitted. And this year, each category will be judged on a number of factors, including quality, uniqueness, and authenticity. And they say the judges will also consider how well the product represents North Carolina, and materials to make it are locally sourced. The competition is currently underway, and submissions will be accepted through July 19, with the winners announced on Aug. 24.    

And this year, they've got some very impressive North Carolinians judging the competition:

  • Ashley Christensen, chef and restaurateur
  • Bob Timberlake, artist and designer
  • John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon, the duo behind international interior design firm Madcap Cottage
  • Cameron Cruse, the COO and co-founder of R. Riveter
  • Lisa Cooper, president of Mast General Store
  • Nicole Bogas, Our State Retail Brand Specialist  
Our State says the judges will "choose a winner and two honorable mentions for each category. Then judges from the Our State Store and Mast General Store will consider all submissions for merchandising opportunities. Once all submission forms are received at the end of the entry period, an Our State representative will contact you if a sample of your product is required."  

The winners will be announced Aug. 24 and the Made in NC Celebration at the Mast General Store in Winston-Salem will be held on Oct. 7.  

You can also pick up Our State magazine's July issue, which looks back at growing up in NC.  It's on newsstands now.