FLETCHER – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted longtime dairy goat exhibitor Marjorie Burton and longtime Western N.C. dairy farmer Mike Corn into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame during the fair’s opening weekend. These individuals were inducted for their decades of support to the fair and the livestock industry in Western North Carolina.
“We are fortunate to have many agricultural families that put their heart and soul into the livestock programs and the Mountain State Fair,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Marjorie Burton and Mike Corn are a big part of what makes these programs a success. I am honored to present them with this award and thank them for their support.”
Majorie Burton: Dairy Goats
Marjorie Burton and her husband Leonard started Fire Pink Hollar in Leicester with up to 50 dairy goats in the late-1970s. Burton has shown goats at the N.C. Mountain State Fair since its beginning 31 years ago. Over the years, Margie has won premier breeder and exhibitor for the Oberhasli and La Mancha dairy goat shows. When Burton first added Oberhasli, they were a new breed with the American Goat Association. She has done a lot in improving the breed, specifically in Western North Carolina. Burton has also held numerous board positions with the Piedmont Dairy Goat Association.
“Everyone who knows Margie will tell you that she is a stable force at the N.C. Mountain State Fair and that they look forward to seeing her each year,” Troxler said. “In addition to creating a love of goats and showing with her granddaughter, Tiffany, she has helped countless other youth. She is an example of someone that through her love of goats and the Mountain State Fair has made a lasting positive impact in her community and for the dairy goat industry in North Carolina. We are proud to have her as part of the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.”
Mike Corn: Dairy Cows
Mike Corn has spent the last several decades managing the Biltmore Estate Jersey herd at his farm Small Acres Dairy in Mills River. At the Mountain State Fair, Mike is more well known for being the farmer that provides the mama cows for the Mooternity Ward.
“When this exhibit was imagined for the fair more than a decade ago, likely no one knew then how popular and beloved it would be at the Fair,” Troxler said.• “Every year through Mike’s dedication and hard work fairgoers can learn about the dairy industry and watch the miracle of a live birth. It takes a lot of effort, volunteers and a little science to make this exhibit a success. Mike is the one to make sure all these pieces fit together.”
Corn and his wife, Mary Louise, are also very active in the dairy show, ensuring countless youth have the opportunity to show. He’s deeply involved in youth mentorship, training young dairy judges and even loaning livestock to help students gain hands-on experience in showing and caring for animals.
Corn’s service and leadership haven’t gone unnoticed. In 1994, he was named Dairyman of the Year. In 2008, he received the Bill Martin Award for Service at the Mountain State Fair. In 2018, he was inducted into the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame.
“Mike embodies what it means to give back to the land and the people around him,” Troxler said. “We are proud to have him as part of our N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.”
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