Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler hosted the livestock scholarship recipients at the Got to Be NC Festival May 19
With the last truckload of livestock sold at the NC State Fair Sale of Champions, the lights dim and everyone goes home, exhausted but happy. While the sale has ended the impact has not.
The NC State Fair Sale of Champions is more than just a one-night sale. It is more than supporting the youth who exhibited the champion animals. The Sale of Champions impacts hundreds of youth across the state of North Carolina.
Proceeds from the sale are divided into different areas:
60 percent of the auction total is awarded to the individual NC State Fair Jr. Livestock Show Champions as: Cash award of 60 percent and contributions to a NC 529 or approved educational investment plan at 40 percent.
30 percent of the auction total supports the scholarship program open to all N.C. State Fair youth livestock exhibitors.
10 percent of the auction total supports youth livestock programs and activities across North Carolina.
The 30 percent of the auction that goes to a scholarship program has recently impacted 29 individuals who are in or headed to college. In addition to the auction-funded scholarships, there were four newly created Premier scholarships sponsored by Powers Great American Midway, Farm Credit Associations of N.C., who sponsored two, and Capital Chevrolet. Premier scholarships are awarded in the amount of $3,500 and all other scholarships are $2,000. This year’s NC State Fair Scholarship recipients are:
| First Name | County |
| Kelsey Bentley | Johnston |
| Coleman Berry | Richmond |
| Mason Blinson | Harnett |
| Rachel Brown | Stokes |
| Jordan Cox-O’Neill | Jones |
| Faith Dunbar | Wake |
| Liz- Anne Earle | Wilson |
| Melanie Fishel | Forsyth |
| Cecilia Fricke | Johnston |
| Abby Fulton | Davidson |
| Tristan Fulton | Davidson |
| Taylor Glover | Wayne |
| Kaylyn Groce | Chatham |
| Thomas Moseley | Edgecombe |
| LeAnn Harward | Stanly |
| Grace LaHay | Wilson |
| Megan Lawing | Rutherford |
| Alec Linton | Wayne |
| Dakota Locklear | Robeson |
| Bethany Mackey | Madison |
| Caley Mayo | Edgecombe |
| Jordan McAninch | Buncombe |
| Makensie Mohrfeld | Lenoir |
| Joey Moore | Franklin |
| Lauren Murray | Rutherford |
| Sylas Owen | Madison |
| Gage Riddick | Gates |
| Garrett See | Wake |
| Cara Smith | Guilford |
| Haley Stevens | Johnston |
| Sarah Thomas | Chatham |
| Leah Thomas | Yadkin |
| Tucker Worley | Buncombe |
Mason Blinson was awarded the Capital Chevrolet scholarship and Jordan Cox-O’Neill was awarded the Powers Great American Midway scholarship. Both Tristen Fulton and Kaylyn Groce were each awarded a Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina scholarship.
Recipients will be spread across 18 different colleges and universities from as far as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and West Texas A+M University to as close as N.C. State University and Wilson Community College.
Recipients were selected based on their involvement with N.C. State Fair livestock shows, their academic performance, an essay, and their overall resume.
This scholarship means a lot to these youth. Not jut because it will help them financially as they pursue dreams in college, but because it is an honor. Recipients have spent years in the show ring and have fond memories of time spent competing at the N.C. State Fair.
“Every year for as long as I can remember, I’ve been in the barns at the N.C. State Fair showing livestock. Receiving this scholarship means a lot because the livestock programs at the NC State Fair are important to me. It has become a family,” said Garrett See, a 2018 scholarship recipient.
Of course, finances are appreciated too. College is expensive, especially when you decide to go on to grad school.
“When I was trying to decide whether or not to go get my MBA, finances definitely played a factor. However, this scholarship made my goal to get my master’s a reality. Writing papers and studying are made easier when finances are not looming over my head too,” said Alec Linton, a three-time scholarship recipient.
The 2018 scholarship recipients were recognized at the Got to Be NC Festival where they were joined with NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
The impacts of the N.C. State Fair Sale of Champions lasts well beyond the night of the auction. It also goes beyond the college years. The scholarship allows youth to fulfill their dreams, become educated, and make a difference in their communities.
We want to congratulate the scholarship recipients. They are truly a wonderful group of people who have some amazing accomplishments. We can’t wait to see how far they will go! We also want to thank all those who chose to invest in the future of these youth .
If you are interested in supporting the scholarship program, you don’t have to attend the auction. Consider becoming a donor through contributions to the N.C. Ag Foundation-NC.. State Fair Youth Livestock account. Contact N.C. Agricultural Foundation, Kathy Kennel 919-515-9259 or kkennel@ncsu.edu or become a sponsor! For additional information contact N.C. State Fair Sponsorship Director, Angie Crone 919-839-4514 or angie.crone@ncagr.gov.
