RALEIGH, N.C. – Junior winners in the N.C. State Fair livestock shows drew $167,000 for the top steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys in the Junior Livestock Sale of Champions at the N.C. State Fair on Oct. 19.
“It is great to see our North Carolina companies show such strong support of our junior livestock youth,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The money raised will go a long way towards college educations, scholarships and educational outreach.”
The grand champion junior market steer was shown by Madison Boyd of Pinetown, with the winning bid of $25,000 placed by N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and N.C. Farm Bureau. The grand champion and grand champion Got to Be NC junior market steer was also shown by Boyd. It was purchased by Farm Bureau Insurance.
The reserve grand champion junior market steer was shown by Ross Hinnant of Kenly. Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina bought the reserve champion for $14,000.
Tractor Supply Company purchased the grand champion junior market lamb for $18,000. The lamb was shown by Regan Glass of Belhaven. Iron Horse Auction Company purchased the reserve champion lamb, shown by Caley Mayo of Whitakers for $7,000.
Farm Bureau Insurance and the N.C. Farm Bureau purchased the Got to Be NC Junior Market Lamb shown by Cynthia Connolly of Mt. Ulla for $13,500.
Powers Great American Midway, Capital Chevrolet and Chaudhry Halal Meat Company purchased the grand champion and grand champion Got to Be NC meat goat, shown by Zade Jennings of Kenly, for $16,000. Farm Credit Associations of N.C. and Tractor Supply Company purchased the reserve grand champion meat goat shown by Caley Mayo for $7,000.
Ashton Seal of Mount Airy showed the grand champion and grand champion Got to Be NC market barrow, which was purchased for $26,500 by the N.C. Pork Council, Smithfield Foods, Prestage Farms and Hog Slat Inc. This was a new record price for the grand champion market barrow.
The reserve grand champion barrow, was shown by Justus Meads of Hertford. It was purchased for $15,000 by Prestage Farms, Smithfield Foods, Hog Slat Inc., Farm Bureau Insurance and Farm Credit Associations of N.C.
Talley Farms purchased the grand champion market turkey shown by Hattie Joe Powell of Four Oaks for $7,500. McBride’s Concessions purchased the reserve champion turkey shown by Riley Yates of Randleman for $5,500.
The youth receive 60 percent of the purchase amount, while the remaining 40 percent goes to support youth scholarships and youth livestock educational programs in North Carolina.
Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2015, nearly $285,000 has been awarded to students continuing their education.
The sale began with the auction of a stockman’s cane. EBS Farms purchased the cane for $300, which went into the scholarship program.
Following the auction of the grand and reserve grand champions, a truckload support auction was held, raising $96,750 to provide additional support to the youth that participated in the junior market animal shows and sales. Proceeds from the truck load sale goes to the nearly 700 kids who exhibited market animals at the N.C. State Fair.
–N.C. State Fair