RALEIGH – The junior livestock grand and reserve grand champion steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys were auctioned in the Sale of Champions on Saturday at the N.C. State Fair. Bidders paid a total of $167,700 for the top animals, the highest auction total ever.
“The State Fair’s livestock shows highlight some of the best animals and brightest kids in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The sponsors of this event recognize that our youth exhibitors are the future of agriculture in North Carolina, and I’m pleased to see them support scholarships and educational programs.”
The grand champion junior market steer was shown by Marty Wines, 18, of Leicester (Buncombe County). Harris Teeter placed the winning bid of $35,000. Wines also showed the N.C. Born and Bred champion steer, which was purchased by N.C. Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Insurance, Jones & Cox Cattle Company, Carolina Stockyards, and Performance Livestock & Feed for $15,000.
The reserve grand champion was shown by Madison Boyd, 13, of Pinetown (Beaufort). Harris Teeter purchased the steer for $17,200.
Hunter McMillen, 7, of Grandy (Currituck) showed the grand champion barrow, purchased for $16,500 by the N.C. Pork Council. The N.C. Born and Bred champion barrow, sold for $11,000 to Smithfield Farmland, was shown by Ben Scott, 12, of Lucama (Wilson). The reserve grand champion was shown by Travis Cox, 8, of Richlands (Onslow). Hog Slat Inc. and Neese’s Country Sausage purchased the barrow for $8,000.
The grand champion junior market lamb was shown by Abigail Wilson, 11, of China Grove (Rowan). Powers Great American Midways purchased the lamb for $11,000. Powers Great American Midways and McBride Concessions purchased the reserve grand champion junior market lamb for $7,500 from Hailee Whitehurst, 11, of Hobgood (Edgecombe).
The grand champion N.C. Born and Bred lamb was shown by Maggie Williams, 14, of Farmville (Pitt). N.C. Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Insurance purchased the animal for $9,000.
Joel Dahms, 16, of Bahama (Durham) showed the grand champion junior market meat goat, which was purchased by Farm Bureau Insurance for $11,000. The reserve grand champion and grand champion N.C. Born and Bred meat goat was shown by Zadock Jennings, 3, of Kenly (Johnston), which was purchased by Iron Horse Auction Company for $10,000.
Talley Farms purchased the grand champion turkey for $9,500, exhibited by Sophie Farlow of Sophia (Randolph). Grace Roper of Wendell (Wake) showed the reserve grand champion turkey, which was purchased by N.C. Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Insurance for $7,000.
The youth receive 60 percent of the purchase amount, while the remaining 40 percent goes to support youth scholarships and livestock programs in North Carolina.
Following the auction of the grand and reserve grand champions, remaining junior livestock animals were sold in a truckload auction.
E.B. Harris of Warrenton r