Three inducted into the State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted three new members into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame at the State Fairgrounds.

The Livestock Hall of Fame recognizes and honors outstanding supporters of the fair. Candidates can be producers of livestock who have exhibited and promoted livestock shows at the fair, a person who has served as a fair employee or volunteer, and representatives of business, extension workers or others from agricultural organizations.

“This year’s inductees join a small group of men and women who have been leaders with the state fair livestock shows,” Troxler said. “We are thankful for our livestock family and what their involvement has meant for countless youth who have grown up showing at the fair.”

2015 inductees are:

E.B. Harris of Warrenton inducted in the Supporters category for his instrumental involvement in the N.C. State Fair Livestock Sale of Champions. Harris has been involved with the evolution and growth of this sale into a premier scholarship and youth educational support event. He has been the auctioneer for the event for nearly a decade. Harris is also a supporter of youth through purchases and other livestock events throughout the state.

Alan Sharp of Sims was inducted in the Swine category. Sharp started showing at the fair as a junior exhibitor. He has continued to exhibit in the Open Market Hog Show, the Open Breeding Gilt Show and has been one of the strongest supporters in the state of the Performance Market Hog Show. Sharp works closely with Wilson County and North Carolina 4-H and FFA families providing his time, pigs and guidance at judging events. He was also instrumental in bringing the Junior Swine Showmanship competition back to the fair in 2007.

The late Jerry Stephen “Steve” Mobley of Louisburg was inducted in the Horse Category for his lifetime support of horse shows. As a horse specialist for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it was important to Mobley that his work provide a means to serve and educate the rapidly growing horse industry in North Carolina. The breed shows and youth shows always ran smoothly because Mobley knew the rule books for each breed backward and forward. He kept the shows running and the exhibitors happy. He and his wife, Martha, established a silver trophy urn award at the fair for the Quarter Horse Showmanship winner. Mobley was also a champion horseman and had a successful career showing Appaloosas and Quarter Horses.