livestock shows

The Kennedy Family has a fair devotion to swine

Katie Hubbard September 19 September 20

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 in agriculture. Growing up, I was a part of FFA. At first, I started by showing steers and heifers and then moved into swine showmanship.” Brian is the finishing production manager at Prestage Farms where he has worked since 1991. His job at Prestage Farms,…

NC State Fair, Where Dreams Come True

Marisa Linton See May 26 May 26

For the sixth year, Ashton Seal and his family drove from Mount Airy to Raleigh to show pigs at the NC State Fair. Like any other year, they were excited to show pigs and see friends, they were also holding their breath ever so slightly. They had a dream of winning the champion banner. This was a dream they had held for years. Many show families have that dream. Perhaps it is fair to say that almost everyone who participates in showing livestock at the NC State Fair comes to the ring with bated breath, a hope filled heart, and…

5 Ways Summer Is Different for Livestock Kids

Marisa Linton See July 19 July 19

There’s something about summertime. School is out. The sun is shining, and anything cool sounds good (please pass the ice cream). Many families go on vacation or spend days at the pool. Children attend camps and make special memories with friends all summer long. Summer is a special time, but it does not look the same for everyone. Here’s 5 ways summer is different for kids with livestock. 1.Family vacations are to livestock shows. With some big livestock shows taking place in the middle of summer, families involved in the livestock show world, pack up, and make the trip to…

Never Stop Learning:Youth Improve Skills Through Livestock Clinics

Marisa Linton See June 4 May 29

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. -Ben Franklin Have you ever watched a livestock show at the N.C. State Fair? Have you ever wondered how they learn how to show a massive cow or keep control of their pig? Let me tell you, there are lot of rules to follow and techniques to execute. Those showmen didn’t learn how to show overnight. Through the entire year, youth are constantly investing in their skills and knowledge regarding livestock. They are forever trying to learn, grow, and become better. One major opportunity they have is to participate in livestock…

Scholarship Highlight–Tristen Fulton Chases Dreams Across the Nation and Globe

Marisa Linton See October 4 October 4

When it comes to becoming a veterinarian, there is no doubt there is a lot of school involved that comprises of some hard classes. Even during undergraduate pre-vet classes, there are some doozies. Almost every student second guesses their choice in career, and some just give up. However, for those who keep their eye on the goal of becoming a vet and are willing to put in the hard work, those goals are realized. Tristen Fulton has a dream of becoming a vet and a goal of opening her own clinic that focuses on cattle reproduction and specialize in embryology….

60 tons of shavings: The N.C. State Fair by the numbers

Funhouse September 30 September 30

The annual N.C. State Fair is less than 2 weeks away. The fairgrounds crew is busily preparing the grounds for the nearly 1 million fairgoers that will visit during the annual 11-day event. Check out these fun numerical facts about the 151st N.C. State Fair, which runs Oct. 11 through the 21st. 2,855: Number of windows on the exterior of Dorton Arena 1,674: Number of mums ordered for the Flower and Garden Show. Several of these will be used to build the giant mum-tree, one of the fair’s most popular photo spots. 60 tons: And what do you get? All…

Scholarship Spotlight: Liz-Anne Earle’s Texas dreams and North Carolina Facetimes

Marisa Linton See April 23 April 23

It was the final show of the Eastern Carolina Lamb Showmanship circuit. Points were close between competitors. This show would determine the circuit champions and who would win the belt buckle. Everyone watched with baited breath to see if the novice showman, although young and cute, could show a lamb as good as the most-seasoned showman. The judge deliberated. Finally, he made his decision and shook the winner’s hand. The audience erupted in applause and hollered. There was one scream, though that could be heard all the way from Texas. Liz-Anne Earl grew up showing cattle and lambs in North…

Livestock Special Awards Show celebrates 20 years

Funhouse October 18 October 18

It’s impossible to talk about the N.C. State Fair Livestock Special Awards Show without talking about longtime participant Mike Smith. Smith started attending livestock shows with his nieces in the 1980s as they exhibited livestock in the youth shows. But as he traveled with his family to livestock events across the state, Smith, who has Down Syndrome, never had the opportunity to participate in a show. He helped behind the scenes by keeping the stalls clean. At the 1996 N.C. State Fair, Smith was given the opportunity to walk a goat through the show ring before the shows started. A…

Cooper’s miniature Herefords are BIG winners

Funhouse October 14 October 10

John Cooper’s wife, Yvonne, was the true spark behind the ribbon-winning herd of miniature Herefords at Spring Trail Ranch in Hillsborough. “My wife saw a story on Fox News in June of 2009,” Cooper said. “We ended up going to Nebraska and bought four heifers and bull the next month. We now have 70 cows.” Miniature Herefords are often more like pets than cows. And, unlike standard cows where the recommended acreage is one acre per head of cattle, miniature cows can be kept two per acre. “Their moo is like how a dog barks and they’ll complain if you…

The road to the N.C. State Fair

Marisa Linton See September 25 February 2

Following is a guest post from Marisa Linton. Marisa grew up showing and raising livestock, and currently lives on her family’s small farm in Mount Olive. She has shown animals at the N.C. State Fair for the past 14 years and is a past youth livestock scholarship recipient. She is an N.C. State University graduate, agricultural photographer and blogger. The countdown to the N.C. State Fair is dwindling. All of a sudden, we are in double digits, and September is almost gone. While many of us are anxiously awaiting the time when we can sink our teeth into all manner…

Tag: livestock shows