Contributed story
A total of 159 youth from across Johnston County exhibited livestock at the 2016 Johnston County Youth Livestock Show & Sale this week.
The judge for the event was Eddie Holland of Bluffton, Texas. Holland is a graduate of Texas Tech University who worked for Texas Cooperative Extension for 31 years before retiring as County Extension Agent in Kerr County. He served as president of the Texas County Agriculture Agents Association and the National Association of County Agriculture Agents. He has judged cattle, swine sheep and goats at major livestock shows and state fairs throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. He currently ranches in Llano County, TX raising cattle and trophy whitetail deer.
The cattle show was held on Monday beginning with steer placing. Five steers were entered in the show. A 1,345-pound crossbred steer exhibited by Schyler Crocker of Selma was chosen as grand champion, with reserve honors going to Madi Creech of Selma. A field of 19 heifers was shown after the steer show, with grand champion going to a heifer shown by Justin Wood of Willow Springs and reserve champion to a heifer exhibited by his sister, Mary Elaine Wood. When beef showmanship competition began, Caroline Corbett of Selma was named Champion Novice Beef Showman, with reserve going to Charlotte Wood of Willow Springs. In the Junior division Kadence Overby of Micro was selected as champion, followed by Schyler Crocker in the reserve spot. Competition was tight in the Senior division of beef showmanship, but Marcy Price of Selma was finally selected as champion, with reserve going to Madi Creech. The “Children’s Revenge” adult showmanship was judged by a field of youth competitors, with the winner being Justin Teeter of Mount Ulla, NC.
The meat goat show was held Tuesday and began with Cloverbud showmanship for children ages 5-8. There were 20 Cloverbud meat goat showmen entered. In Junior division of goat showmanship, the grand champion was Kimsey Bagley of Angier and reserve champion was Jack Wroughton of Willow Spring. In the Intermediate division Kadence Overby was champion followed by W. Luke Adams of Four Oaks in reserve. Finally, the senior division goat showmanship competition ended with Rachel Murphy and Travis Anderson, both of Four Oaks, winning grand and reserve champion, respectively. Market classes followed showmanship in the meat goat show, with a field of 48 goats in 7 weight classes. Mr. Holland selected an 85-pound goat exhibited by Rachel Murphy as champion and Braelyn Long of Selma exhibited the reserve champion. After the champion goat was selected, the “Children’s Revenge” adult goat showmanship class was held with Lori Woodard of Kenly selected as the winner.
Activities on Wednesday began with the market lamb show. There were There were 25 lambs entered. After evaluating the market lambs in five weight classes, Mr. Holland selected a lamb shown by Macy Massengill of Princeton to stand as grand champion and a lamb shown by Haley Stevens of Selma as reserve champion. There were 8 Cloverbud lamb showmen. In the Junior Lamb Showmanship division Schyler Crocker was named champion and his sister, Lydia Crocker was named reserve. In the intermediate division Tanner Bentley of Kenly captured the championship trophy with reserve going to Kadence Overby. Haley Stevens was selected as champion senior lamb showman followed by Macy Massengill in reserve. The “Children’s Revenge” adult lamb showmanship class was won by Janet Bentley of Kenly.
The final species shown was the market hogs. After evaluating nine classes of hogs, grand champion market hog honors went to a gilt shown by Joy Leigh Hinnant of Kenly, with Marcy Price showing the reserve champion. Selection of the champion animal was followed by showmanship, beginning with 18 Cloverbud exhibitors. In the Junior division champion showmanship honors went to Daniel Beasley of Four Oaks, followed in reserve by Connor House of Selma. In the Intermediate swine showmanship division, the championship trophy was awarded to Brittany Beasley and reserve honors to Kaleb Byrd of Smithfield. In the Senior showmanship division Marcy Price took home the winner’s embroidered chair with reserve honors going to Travis Anderson. The winner of “Children’sRevenge” adult swine showmanship was Blake Thompson of Smithfield.
Wednesday night, 13 graduating seniors were presented with scholarships. Farm Bureau Agency manager Charlie Young presented two Sonny Batten Memorial Endowment scholarships to Haley Stevens and Joy Leigh Hinnant. Bryant Spivey, Johnston County Extension Director, presented the Norman C. Denning, Sr. and Jean R. Denning scholarships to Macy Massengill and Madi Creech. Johnston County Youth Livestock scholarships were also awarded to: Garrett Lee of Smithfield; Skyler Tyndall of Selma; Wynter Autry, David Norris, Jacob Whaley and Brandon Philyaw of Four Oaks; Caleb Cox of Bentonville; Ally Edwards of Wendell; and Daniel Wellons of Princeton.
Bryant Spivey presented the Johnston County Agriculture Hall of Fame Award to John and Dr. Eileen Langdon of Benson. The Langdon’s live on the farm where John grew up near Coats Crossroads. The farm produces a variety of field crops, grows market swine for Murphy-Brown, and also produces purebred Red Angus, Simmental and crossbred cattle. The farm has been honored many times for conservation efforts, including being named the Conservation Farm Family of the Year in 2010 by the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Mr. Langdon has served on the Johnston Soil & Water Conservation Board of Supervisors since 1994, and is the current chair of the state Soil & Water Commission. He also serves as the Northeast Region Director for the Red Angus Association of America. Dr. Eileen Langdon is a partner in Willowrun Vet Hospital in Smithfield, where she has worked since 1990. The practice has been honored for 50 consecutive years of accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association, one of less than fifty practices in the US to achieve that distinction. Dr. Langdon is a member of both the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and also currently serves on the Johnston County Board of Health. The Langdon’s have three children; John Michael is a graduate student at Texas A&M University, Hunter is a farmer and graduate of NC State University, and Megan is a student at UNC Wilmington.
The Executive Director of the NC Cattlemen’s Association, Brian Blinson, served as auctioneer for the sale on Wednesday evening. The champion animals sold, followed in order by remaining steers, goats, hogs and lambs. Final details of support prices received will be available once all tabulations are in.
The Johnston County Youth Livestock Show & Sale is an annual event open to youth aged 5-18 who are either enrolled in Johnston County Schools or whose primary residence is in Johnston County. Participants learn about livestock production, record keeping, financial management and responsibility through the project. Additional information about the project is available through the Johnston County office of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
