Junior Livestock Sale Of Champions Sets Record

Money goes to scholarships and winners

RALEIGH – Junior winners in the N.C. State Fair livestock shows drew a record $212,500 for the top steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys in the Junior Livestock Sale of Champions Oct. 23.

“It is great to see our North Carolina companies show such strong support of our junior livestock youth,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Because of these shows, young people have experiences they wouldn’t have anywhere else. And they learn lessons that not only last throughout their lives, but that they can pass along to future generations. The money raised will go a long way towards college educations, scholarships and educational outreach.”

• The grand champion junior market steer was shown by Cole Williams of Waynesville, with a winning bid of $20,000 placed by Tractor Supply Company and Powers Great American Midway.
• The grand champion Got to Be NC junior market steer was shown by Annah Claire Sullivan of Lucama. It was purchased for $18,000 by Farm Bureau Insurance, Farm Credit Associations of NC, Lickskillet Cattle Company and Steve Carroll.
• Farm Bureau Insurance and NC Choices purchased the reserve champion junior market steer for $15,000. The steer was shown by Michelle Hartman of Walnut Cove.
• The grand champion junior market barrow and grand champion Got to Be NC junior market barrow was shown by Connor Kennedy of Pink Hill, with a winning bid of $41,000 placed by Prestage Farms, Hog Slat, Smithfield Foods and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association.
• N.C. Pork Council, Agri Supply Company, Land of Promise Farms and Dr. Richard Bonanno purchased the reserve grand champion junior market barrow, shown by Hannah Cooper of Hertford, for $26,000.
• Zade Jennings of Kenly showed the grand champion junior market lamb, which was purchased by Farm Bureau Insurance, Tractor Supply Company and Land of Promise Farms, for $18,000.
• The Grand Champion Got to Be NC junior market lamb was shown by Kalen Barwick of Deep Run. It was purchased for $15,000 with a bid placed by Farm Bureau Insurance and Smithfield Hog Production.
• Farm Credit Associations of NC and ATM Auction and Realty purchased the reserve grand champion junior market lamb for $12,000. The lamb was shown by Maggie Glass of Belhaven.
• Zade Jennings also showed the grand champion junior market meat goat. The winning bid was placed by Farm Bureau Insurance for $12,500.
• The grand champion Got to be NC junior market meat goat and the reserve champion junior market meat goat was also shown by Zade Jennings. The winning bid of $13,000 was placed by Farm Bureau Insurance, Iron Horse Auction Company and Union County Livestock Market.
• The grand champion market turkey was shown by Laura Jessup of Coleridge. The winning bid was placed by Talley Farms and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association for $7,000.
• Farm Bureau Insurance and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association placed the winning bid of $6,500 for the reserve grand champion market turkey shown by Sage Robertson of Burlington.
• Bryson Baldwin of Statesville showed the Supreme Dairy Female. The winning bid of $10,000 received a Taste of NC Dairy Basket. Buyers were Maryland and Virginia Dairy Producers Cooperative, NC Farm Bureau Insurance Company, Farm Credit Associations of NC, NCSU Ag Institute, Cowbuyer.com, Simply Natural Creamery, Gar-Mac Dairy, White Rock Dairy, Wright Farms, Rocky Creek Vet Service, Thompson Cattle Company, Weston and Shannon McCorkle, Small Acres Dairy,
• Homeland Creamery of Julian NC, Beam Dairy, Piedmont Jerseys, Eaker Dairy, Piedmont Dairy and Farm Equipment, Nancy Keith, Major Bond and Iredell Farm Bureau.

“Although there was not a truckload auction this year, additional funds were raised to provide support to the exhibitors of market animals,” Troxler said. “Farm Bureau Insurance, Tractor Supply, N.C. Pork Council, Senator Tom McInnis, Farm Credit Associations of NC, FoxFire Farms, and RWN Ag Enterprises contributed to those efforts.”