Volume 22 | Issue2

Junior Livestock Sale of Champions sets record at $212,500; Jr. Market Barrow gets $40,000

grand champion junior market barrow and grand champion Got to Be NC junior market barrow shown by Connor Kennedy of Pink Hill.

Junior winners in the N.C. State Fair livestock shows drew a record $212,500 for the top steers, barrows, lambs, goats and turkeys in the Junior Livestock Sale of Champions Oct. 23.

The highest earning animal was the grand champion junior market barrow and grand champion Got to Be NC junior market barrow shown by Connor Kennedy of Pink Hill. The winning bid for this dual-grand champion animal was $41,000 placed by Prestage Farms, Hog Slat, Smithfield Foods and the N.C. Soybean Producers Association.

eserve grand champion junior market barrow, shown by Hannah Cooper of Hertford, for $26,000

The N.C. Pork Council, Agri Supply Company, Land of Promise Farms and Dr. Richard Bonanno purchased the reserve grand champion junior market barrow, shown by Hannah Cooper of Hertford, for $26,000.

“It is great to see our North Carolina companies show such strong support of our junior livestock youth,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Because of these shows, young people have experiences they wouldn’t have anywhere else. And they learn lessons that not only last throughout their lives, but that they can pass along to future generations. The money raised will go a long way towards college educations, scholarships and educational outreach.”

See the full list of the Sale of Champions animals.

“Although there was not a truckload auction this year, additional funds were raised to provide support to the exhibitors of market animals,” Troxler said. “Farm Bureau Insurance, Tractor Supply, N.C. Pork Council, Senator Tom McInnis, Farm Credit Associations of NC, FoxFire Farms, and RWN Ag Enterprises contributed to those efforts.”

NC Pork highlights bacon at the State Fair; NC Pork Council helps highlight NC agriculture

The NC Pork Council and NC State Fair partnered to highlight the most popular cut of pork - BACON! And with 41 of 100 food vendors having bacon on their menu, it's not a stretch to say that bacon is the most popular food item at the NC State Fair.

"Food is the number one reason come to the NC State Fair," said NCPC Communications director Jen Kendrick. "So it seemed like a natural fit to highlight bacon at the fair and take advantage of the tremendous love fairgoers have for bacon and fair food."

The Bacon Trail map helped fairgoers seek out the 41 vendors and the food items containing bacon as an ingredient.

In addition, the NC Pork Council partnered with the NC Cattlemen's Association, NC Soybean Producers Association, NC Dairy Alliance, NC Farm Bureau and Feed the Dialogue NC to promote agriculture in the Graham Building at the fair. The centerpiece of the exhibit space was the Moovie Theater - a 15' LED screen that featured videos from the participating organizations. Benches and cocktail tables encouraged people to take a break and learn about agriculture.

The six groups also hosted a Barnyard Beango game which encouraged fairgoers to check out the exhibit area and find answers on the Beango card to win a prize. Volunteers for the NC Pork Council were on hand every day to answer questions about pork and the pork industry. The Beango game proved to be very interactive and engaging and helped spur great conversations with fairgoers. Tractor Supply also provided prizes for the game.

Volunteers also helped promote the Bacon Trail through social media video reviews of bacon items at the fair. Check out the Instagram Story Highlights for some of these reviews.

Hughes inducted into NC State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame

Ron Hughes, a native of Pennsylvania, has been involved with swine at the N.C. State Fair since 1978 and was inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame this year!

Not only did Ron work as the Swine Testing Specialist with the NC State University Swine Extension Team from 1980 to 1993, but he also assisted with the operation of swine shows and gave guidance to many participating students. "Under his watch, participation in the swine showmanship shows has grown dramatically," said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "He has been a fixture at the fair for 17 years and we are honored to recognize him."

Hog Farmer film now available on Prime Video

Hog Farmer: The Trials of Joey Carter is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

If you plan to watch the film, please download it this week to help boost the analytics of the film.

Gov. Cooper declares October Pork Month in North Carolina

What we're reading

Neuse River Named River of the Year | Goldsboro Daily News

Devoted CALS Philanthropist William Prestage Passes Away | CALS News

Ag pioneer Prestage passes | Sampson Independent

Turkey and hog farming giant Bill Prestage dies at age 87 | North State Journal

Eliminating ASF From the Caribbean Will Require Long Term Effort | Swine Web

Urgency is Key to Fighting Japanese Encephalitis Virus | Pork Business

Attention students: Neil Dierks Pork Education Scholarship applications now available

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Neil Dierks Scholarship, which is sponsored by the National Pork Industry Foundation and managed and administered by the National Pork Producers Council. One $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student seeking a graduate degree in a field related to the pork industry at a land grant university. Applications are due by January 3, 2023. For more information, email: vanvarkj@nppc.org

Apply Now for the NPPC Communications Internship

Are you, or someone you know, interested in communications, public policy and the pork industry? If so, check out the National Pork Producers Council's communications internship opportunities for hands-on experience with an organization that serves as the global voice for the U.S. pork industry. Applications for spring and summer 2023 internships will be accepted through Oct. 28. (Apply Here)