RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s been a difficult year, full of changes and unexpected challenges. Still, some things are continuing, though they don’t always look quite how we’re all used to seeing them. For example, the North Carolina State Fair was canceled, but the youth livestock shows, including the popular Youth Market Turkey Show, went on.
In the Lil Gobblers age bracket (5-8 year olds), 46 participants showed their turkeys. Devin Barrett of Rowan County won Grand Champion Lil Gobbler and Gabriella Baldwin of Buncombe County won Reserve Champion Lil Gobbler. Four participants showed their turkeys in a noncompetitive class.
There were 135 Juniors (9-13 years of age) and Seniors (14-18 years of age) competing for Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion honors.
For perhaps the first time in YMTS history, two sisters from Randolph County won Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. Cassidy Sharpe’s 44-pound turkey won Grand Champion and Brooklyn Sharpe’s 39-pound bird took Reserve Grand Champion. Cassidy’s Grand Champion turkey won her a $1,500 check from Talley Farms. Her sister Brooklyn’s turkey won Brooklyn $1,000 from the Farm Bureau and Talley Farms.
The show was different this year, but we especially want to thank Neil Bowman, Jimmy Collie and their team at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) for conducting this year’s show.
Thanks also go to the many sponsors who gave financial contributions in order to continue to offer this program. Finally, thank you to Butterball for donating the poults used in this program.
Click here for a complete list of winners, and a video recap.
–Rhea Hebert, N.C. State University