Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted four new members into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame Sunday, Oct. 26, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. “Our livestock shows are some of the best in the nation, and the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame serves to recognize individuals who work behind the scenes … Read more
The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced 31 recipients of the N.C. State Fair Junior Livestock Scholarships to help fund higher education for youth who participate in State Fair Junior Livestock Shows. Funding comes from the annual Junior Livestock Sale of Champions. Following is a list of scholarship recipients by county. All … Read more
Taylor Askew has been showing livestock at the N.C. State Fair since she was just 5 years old. Now, the 17-year-old is gearing up to finish high school and head to college, taking with her a long list of life lessons she’s learned along the way. The Greenville native said showing livestock has been somewhat … Read more
When Major Bond reflects on the decades he and his family have been showing livestock at the N.C. State Fair, one story sticks out. It should have been like any typical show. And it was – until one of his heifers went into labor. She wasn’t due to calve for a few weeks, Bond recalled, … Read more
Finding a passion does not have an age limit. No matter if you’re ten or one hundred, it is always a good time to start doing something you love. Youth livestock shows at the North Carolina State Fair allow students to get passionate about something and learn in the process. A junior at Uwharrie Charter … Read more
When you grow up doing something, it becomes a part of your character. You learn and grow from the things that you love. The Sharp family has been showing swine for over 30 years. In fact, the families uncle Alan and grandfather, Thad Sharp Jr., were both inducted into the North Carolina Livestock Hall of … Read more
Brian and Sherry Kennedy of Duplin County are devoted N.C. State fairgoers. Not only do they pack up the family to attend the annual State Fair, but they are keen livestock competitors, especially when it comes to showing swine. Brian Kennedy’s passion for livestock started at a young age. “My life has always been ingrained … Read more
The following blog is a guest post provided by Rachel Gray, a Senior in Agribusiness at the University of Mount Olive. The article is part of a series of blogs provided by UMO students. The North Carolina State Fair is an annual event people anxiously look forward to attending. During the 10 days the fair … Read more
Livestock shows are a classic part of the North Carolina State Fair, so it’s only fitting that the fair’s return in 2021 would bring with it a new show for people to enjoy. The junior market lamb show will add a hair wether breed division this year, bringing in a new and popular breed to … Read more
Although the State Fair had to be canceled last year, the Youth Livestock Shows were fortunately still able to go on. The shows are continuing this year, however, they will still not be operating in their pre-pandemic state as was hoped. Because of the financial hit these shows took when revenue was not generated by … Read more