N.C. State Fair's Junior Livestock Sale of Champions draws record $234,000 for youth

The N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Sale of Champions raised a record $234,000 in bids for the top steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys in the sale on Oct. 25.

“The Sale of Champions not only gives us an opportunity to recognize the winners in the N.C. State Fair junior livestock shows, but a portion of every winning bid also goes to scholarships available to all junior livestock show participants,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Congratulations to all those livestock participants and winners, and thanks to all the bidders who make the sale possible.”

• The grand champion junior market steer was shown by Sloane Hinnant of Kenly (Johnston), with a winning bid of $22,000 placed by Powers Great American Midway, N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, Nash Produce and Mid Atlantic Cattle Sales with additional support by Dean Garey Fox and NC State College of Ag and Life Sciences.
• The grand champion Got to Be NC junior market steer was shown by Parker Gardner of Macclesfield (Edgecombe). The top bid of $20,000 came from Tractor Supply Co. Inc., Farm Credit Associations of N.C., and the N.C. Egg Association, with additional support from Harward Livestock Market and Stanly County Livestock Market, Bravo Cattle Co., PD Farms and Lickskillet Cattle Co.
• The reserve grand champion junior market steer was shown by Annah Claire Sullivan of Lucama (Wilson). The winning bid of $21,000 came from N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and Farm Credit Associations of NC, with additional support from Locust Hill Cattle Co.
• Jane Jennings of Camden (Camden) showed the grand champion junior market barrow. The winning bid of $18,500 came from Hog Slat Inc., N.C. Pork Council, Prestage Farms, Smithfield Foods and Agri Supply Co. with additional support from Land of Promise Farms.
• Dylan Briley of Greenville (Pitt) showed the grand champion Got to Be NC market barrow, which drew $23,000 at auction from Hog Slat Inc., N.C. Pork Council, Prestage Farms, Smithfield Foods, Murphy Family Farms, Agri Supply Co. and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association.
• The reserve grand champion junior market barrow was shown by Riley Ballance of Lucama (Wilson). Hog Slat Inc., N.C. Pork Council, Prestage Farms, Smithfield Foods and Agri Supply Co. placed the winning bid of $16,000 with additional support from Dean Garey Fox and N.C. State College of Ag and Life Sciences.
• Zade Jennings of Kenly (Johnston)showed the grand champion junior market lamb, which earned a winning bid of $15,000 from N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance. 
• The grand champion Got to Be NC junior market lamb was shown by Zade Jennings of Kenly (Johnston). The winning bid of $16,500 came from Farm Credit Associations of N.C., N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and Agri Supply Co.
• The reserve grand champion junior market lamb was shown by Darci Boucher of Columbia (Tyrrell). The top bid of $13,000 came from N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance and Agri Supply Co..
• Zade Jennings also showed the grand champion junior market meat goat. Iron Horse Auction Company, Sen. Tom McInnis and N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance with a winning bid of $15,500.
• Cody Fomisani of Wendell (Wake) showed the grand champion Got to be N.C. junior market meat goat and the reserve grand champion junior market meat goat. For the double-category winner, the winning bid of $19,500 came from Tractor Supply Co. Inc., with additional support from Se. Tom McInnis, Dismal Swamp Boers, Helena Agri Enterprises and Chaudhry Halal Meats Co.
• Abigail Doi of Youngsville (Franklin) showed the grand champion market turkey. The winning bid of $8,500 came from the North Carolina Poultry Federation and N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance. 
• Berkley Manning of Williamston (Martin)showed the reserve grand champion market turkey. The North Carolina Poultry Federation and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association placed the winning bid of $5,000.
• Easton Calhoun of Dobson (Surry) showed the Supreme Dairy Female. The winning bid of $12,500 received a Taste of N.C. Dairy Basket. Buyers were N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, Farm Credit Associations of N.C., N.C. Dairy Producers Association and the N.C. Veterinary Medical Association, with additional support from the Keith Family, Cowbuyer.com, Riverbend Creamery, Surry County Farm Bureau, Rocky Creek Dairy, PD Farms, Southern States Mt. Airy, James River Equipment – Mt. Airy, Josh Horton, Bledsoe and Associates and Creeks Edge Veterinary Clinic. 
• Anson Cranford of Asheboro (Randolph) showed the Best Doe in Show in the Youth Dairy Goat contest, which drew an $8,000 bid from Tractor Supply Co. Inc., N.C. Farm Bureau Insurance, N.C. Dairy Goat Producers Association, Hornes Wiring and Repair, Dr. Jeff Broadaway, Mike and Pat Mills, Eagleview Construction, Split Creek Dairy, Ryan Noble Construction, Hendrick Chevy of Monroe, Sell Ethics, Backwoods Family Farm and Barbara and Mark Davis. 

            Grand and reserve grand champion winners receive money from the sale, and a portion of the bids also goes into a scholarship fund that participating youth are eligible to apply for to apply to higher education. Because of strong support for the 2025 sale, 32 $2,000 scholarships were awarded in the spring of this year.

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