N.C. State Fair News: State Fair junior livestock champions net $83,400 at auction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUNDAY, OCT. 18, 2009

CONTACT:

Bruce Shankle, livestock director
N.C. State Fair
(919) 839-4678

State Fair junior livestock champions net $83,400 at auction

RALEIGH — Junior competitors walked away with $83,400 in total prize money in the annual Junior Livestock Sale of Champions auction Saturday at the Jim Graham Building.

“The Junior Livestock Sale of Champions highlights the future of agriculture in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “These competitors, one as young as 3 years old, show a lot of promise, and we appreciate the buyers who support our agricultural future.”

The grand champion junior market steer, 1,292 pounds, was shown by Derek Jones, 19, of Barnardsville (Madison County). Harris Teeter placed the winning bid of $20,000. The reserve grand champion junior market steer, 1,318 pounds, was shown by Syndey Cox, 15, of Trenton (Jones County). Martin Meats, Howard Brothers Livestock Market, Chesney Livestock Market and Stanly County Livestock Market combined to bid $15,000 for the animal.

The N.C.-born-and-bred champion steer was shown by 19-year-old Dillon Ridling of Salisbury (Rowan County). Martin Meats bid $15,000 for the 1,324-pound steer.

Alyson Moore, 17, of Selma (Johnston County) sold her grand champion lamb to Harris Teeter for $5,000. Morgan Watts, 18, of Dallas (Gaston County) took home $3,000 from Iron Horse Auction for her reserve champion lamb. Melinda Staebner, 19, of Jonesville (Yadkin County) sold her N.C.-born-and-bred grand champion lamb to Harris Teeter for $6,000.

Travis Cox, 3, of Louisburg (Franklin County) had the grand champion barrow, which Harris Teeter bought for $7,000. The reserve champion barrow was shown by Makensie Mohrfeld, 9, of Pink Hill (Duplin County), which Harris Teeter also bought for $6,000.

Evan Gunter, 13, of Asheboro (Randolph County) sold his grand champion turkey to Harris Teeter for $4,000. Leah Thomas, 11, of East Bend (Yadkin County) had the reserve champion turkey, which Talley Farms bought for $2,400.

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