Money goes to scholarships and winners
RALEIGH – The N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Sale of Champions raised $213,000 in bids for the top steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys in the sale on Oct. 27.
“Congratulations to all the winners and participants in the N.C. State Fair junior livestock shows,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This money will help many young people continue their education. We couldn’t do it without the support of all the bidders.”
The grand champion junior market steer was shown by Annah Claire Sullivan of Lucama (Wilson), with a winning bid of $23,000 placed by N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, Farm Credit Associations of N.C. and Powers Great American Midways, with additional support by the Blinson Family.
The grand champion Got to Be NC junior market steer was shown by Michelle Hartman of Walnut Cove (Stokes). The top bid of $18,500 came from N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, N.C. Egg Association, Apple Brandy Prime Cuts and Lickskillet Cattle Company, with additional support from Steve Carroll. Hartman also showed the reserve grand champion junior market steer, which earned a winning bid $15,000 from N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance.
The grand champion junior market barrow was shown by Billie Faith Fulcher of Godwin (Cumberland), with a winning bid of $22,000 from Prestage Farms, Agri Supply Company, N.C. Pork Council and Smithfield Foods, with additional support from Stallings and Stallings Farms and John E. Ferebee Farming Inc.
Riley Balance of Lucama (Wilson) showed the grand champion Got to Be NC junior market barrow and the reserve grand champion junior market barrow. For the double-category winner, N.C. Pork Council, Smithfield Foods, Hog Slat Inc., Agri Supply Company, Prestage Farms and N.C. Soybean Producers Association placed the winning bid of $28,000, with additional support from HuneyCutt Ventures.
Lydia Wilson of China Grove (Rowan) showed the grand champion junior market lamb and grand champion Got to Be NC junior market lamb, which earned a winning bid of $18,000 from Tractor Supply Company.
The reserve grand champion junior market lamb was shown by Sawyer Hemilright of Columbia (Tyrrell). The top bid of $14,500 came from N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, ATM Auction and Realty, and Agri Supply Company with additional support from New Lake Seed Company.
Zadock Jennings of Kenly (Johnston) showed the grand champion junior market meat goat. Tractor Supply Company, Iron Horse Auction Company and Chaudhry Halal Meats Company placed the winning bid of $16,000, with additional support from Stallings and Stalling Farms and John E. Ferebee Farming Inc.
The grand champion Got to be N.C. junior market meat goat was shown by Taylor Askew of Greenville (Pitt). The winning bid of $17,500 came from Farm Credit Associations of N.C., N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and Agri Supply Company, with additional support from Dismal Swamp Boers, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Prime Properties and realtor Kristy Askew.
The reserve grand champion junior market meat goat was shown by Kennedy Lee of Smithfield (Johnston). The winning bid of $15,000 was placed by N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and Farm Credit Associations of N.C.
Annie Grace Manning of Nashville (Nash) showed the grand champion market turkey. The winning bid of $8,500 came from Talley Farms, Farm Credit Associations of N.C., N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association, with additional support from Helena Chemical Company and Nutrien Ag Solutions.
Valerie Poole of Zebulon (Wake) showed the reserve grand champion market turkey. The N.C. Soybean Producers Association and N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance placed the winning bid of $5,500.
Reagan Tompkins of Ennice (Allegheny) showed the Supreme Dairy Female. The winning bid of $11,500 received a Taste of N.C. Dairy Basket. Buyers were N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, Farm Credit Association of N.C., Maola Milk, the N.C. Soybean Producers Association, N.C. Veterinary Medical Association and Bottomley Farms, with additional support from Big Money Farms, Bryson Baldwin, Nancy Keith, Weston and Shannon McCorkle, Cowbuyer.com, Alleghany Cattleman’s Association, N.C. Holstein Association and Jason and Heather Wright.
Grand and reserve grand champion winners receive money from the sale, with a portion going into a scholarship fund that participating youth are eligible to apply for higher education. Because of strong support of the 2023 sale, 31 scholarships valued at $2,000 each were awarded in the spring of this year.
