State Fair livestock auction nets $92,100 for youth winners

Junior livestock champion and reserve winners earned $92,100 for their prize animals at the N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Auction Oct. 18.

“The Junior Livestock Sale of Champions provides youth with money for their education and a place to showcase the hard work and dedication they put into raising these animals,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I’m appreciative of the buyers who are helping support the future of agriculture in North Carolina.”

The grand champion junior market steer was shown by Taylor Ridling, 19, of Salisbury (Rowan County). Harris Teeter placed the winning bid of $24,000. The reserve grand champion junior market steer was shown by Derek Jones, 18, of Barnardsville (Madison). Martin Meats bid $13,000 for the animal.

The N.C.-born-and-bred champion steer was shown by 17-year-old Michael Carpenter of Franklin (Macon). Stanly County Livestock, Harward Brothers and Martin Meats bid $20,000 for the steer.

Alyson Moore, 16, of Selma (Johnston) sold her grand champion lamb to Harris Teeter for $7,000. Ashley Pittman, 14, of Kenly (Johnston) took home $4,500 from Iron Horse Auction and Scotland Motor Co. for her reserve champion lamb, which also was the N.C.-born-and-bred grand champion lamb.

Wyatt Scott, 12, of Lucama (Wilson) had the grand champion barrow, which Harris Teeter bought for $8,500. The reserve champion barrow was shown by Kaelyn Mohrfeld, 11, of Pink Hill (Duplin). Martin’s Pork and Neese’s Sausage teamed up for the winning bid of $4,500.

Garrett See, 15, of Raleigh (Wake) sold his grand champion turkey to Harris Teeter for $6,600. Reddin Wheeler of Angier (Harnett) had the reserve champion turkey, which Talley Farms bought for $4,000.