Wildlife in North Carolina State Fair Button History

 

Developed as an annual giveaway to promote the agency's magazine, the Wildlife in North Carolina button made its debut at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s State Fair exhibit in 1981. Since then, it has become a “must-have” collector’s item for thousands of people who visit the exhibit each year. 

Over the past 40 years, a variety of animals — see list by year below — have made an appearance on the buttons. The buttons have become so popular that many exhibit visitors stop by the Wildlife Commission’s State Fair exhibit just to pick up the latest wildlife button.

While there’s no known monetary value associated with owning an entire button collection, some buttons have more appeal than others. For instance, the 1996 button is a hot collectors’ item — and almost impossible to find — not because it features the rascally raccoon, but because the raccoon has no eyes.

Start your collection by stopping by the Wildlife Resources Commission exhibit at the State Fair!

 

Year
Animal
1981
Squirrel   
1982
Heron
1983
Largemouth Bass
1984
Peregrine Falcon
1985
Pair of Ducks
1986
Black Bear
1987
Trout
1988
White-tailed Deer
1989
Black Capped Chickadee
1990
Rabbit
1991
River Otter
1992
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
1993
Dove
1994
Wood Duck
1995
Wild Turkey
1996
Raccoon
1997
Owl
1998
Muskellunge
1999
Salamander (Neuse River Waterdog)
2000
Quail
2001
Indigo Bunting
2002
Coral Snake
2003
Box Turtle
2004
Striped Bass
2005
American Beaver
2006
Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat
2007
Robust Redhorse
2008
Timber Rattlesnake
2009
Brook Trout
2010
Fox Squirrel (Black Phase)
2011
Gopher Frog
2012
Smallmouth Bass
2013
American Kestrel
2014
Tundra Swan
2015
Bobcat
2016
Brook Floater Mussel
2017
Henslow Sparrow
2018
Alligator
2019
Gray Fox
2020
Monarch Butterfly
2021
Walleye
2022 Commission's 75th Anniversary
2023 Northern Cardinal