(RALEIGH) -- The 144th North Carolina State Fair will end its run this weekend. Spokesman Brian Long says the final days of the event will include a visit from America's most famous dairy cow - Elsie from Borden Cheese.

"They are setting up here for the weekend to educate people about good food like milk and cheese come from. It's an educational opportunity about agriculture, and we're excited to have Elsie around; she is an icon," Long said.

As of Tuesday, slightly over 500,000 people had visited the fair. That's below last year's record pace, but still above average. Last year, over 1 million people attended the fair.