Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted four new members into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame Sunday, Oct. 25, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
“Agriculture always has been and will always remain the heart of the N.C. State Fair,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our livestock shows are some of the finest in the nation, and this hall of fame serves to honor the people who have shaped them. Their hard work, leadership and passion have helped build these events and keep them coming back each year.”
Following are the 2026 inductees:
Heather Boodey of Franklin County was inducted into the Horses category. Boodey’s story with the N.C. State Fair spans more than four decades – beginning when she was a young child with a love for horses and growing to a legacy that has shaped generations of riders. Boodey has been at the helm of Ingleside Farm since 1991. Since 1981, Ingleside Farm has been a cornerstone of the N.C. State Fair Horse Show. Under Boodey’s leadership, the farm has grown into a respected training program known for developing talented horses and riders. Boodey was recognized for her unique ability to identify talent and her commitment to guiding young riders toward success. Her involvement in the N.C. State Fair Horse Show has made the show a highlight of North Carolina’s equestrian calendar. Her merits have been recognized within the equestrian community, as she has received many awards in the arena and out, and serves on numerous boards.
Sen. Tom McInnis of Moore County was inducted into the Commissioner’s Meritorious category. McInnis has shown tremendous support to the youth livestock shows at the N.C. State Fair, and the state’s agriculture industry, over the years. McInnis served as the long-time COO of Iron Horse Auction Company, overseeing the company’s auction operations. Iron Horse is one of the premier providers of professional auction services in the Southeast. McInnis and Iron Horse have long supported the N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Sale of Champions. A portion of the bids from that sale go to support scholarships available to all junior livestock show participants. He can count himself among those who have meaningfully contributed to the education and future success of so many young people. During his six terms in the North Carolina Senate, McInnis has been a steadfast supporter of the state’s agriculture industry. He currently serves on the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Senate Committee.
Martha Leonard Mobley of Franklin County was inducted into the General Supporters category. Raised in rural Franklin County, Mobley grew up at Leonard Farms – her family’s farm which is part of the Century Farm program. Her parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for agriculture. Mobley began serving as the Franklin County Livestock Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension in 1988. Throughout her career, she has helped young people from across the region participate in State Fair livestock shows, teaching them animal husbandry, nutrition, showmanship and responsibility. Her late husband, Jerry “Steve” Mobley, was inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame in 2015 for his contributions to the North Carolina horse industry. Together, Martha and Steve shared a passion for mentoring young people. Her legacy is measured not only in the livestock shown, the awards earned or the programs established, but in the countless young people she has inspired and the lasting impact she has made on North Carolina agriculture.
J.W. Wilson of Lenoir County was inducted into the Swine category. Wilson has been raising pigs since he was 8 years old. He exhibited at the N.C. State Fair for the first time in 1983. This was the beginning of a tradition of commitment and support that has continued for more than four decades. Wilson has been a familiar and welcome presence in the Kelly Building, where his love for the swine industry and the people who make it special has become part of the fair's history. Wilson instilled his passion in his three daughters and seven granddaughters, all of whom showed at the N.C. State Fair. As proud as he is of his own family, Wilson’s influence reaches much further. He takes great pride in working with young people, encouraging them, sharing his knowledge and helping them discover the value of agriculture and livestock exhibition. Wilson was recognized not only his many years of participation and support, but also the legacy he built through his family, his friendships, and his unwavering commitment to young people and agriculture.
Since 1980, the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame has served to recognize outstanding supporters of the fair’s livestock shows. Candidates for induction can be producers of livestock that have exhibited and promoted livestock shows at the fair, or a person who has served as a fair employee, representative of a business, extension worker or others from agricultural organizations.
Including this year’s honorees, 193 individuals have been inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.
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