Financial support for the 73rd annual Wilson County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale hit a new plateau with more than $400,000 in sales Thursday.
“Steers went lower than in the past, but the pigs did extremely well,” said Jessica Manning, a livestock agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Wilson office. “The 4-H’ers are blessed with the generous support of local businesses and individuals each and every year.”
Some 98 county children ages 8-18 showed 82 pig projects and 16 steer projects during the two-day event last week at the Wilson County American Legion Fairgrounds.
“We are just really appreciative for all of the supporters and volunteers that make this possible, and we are super proud of these exhibitors,” Manning said. “We could not do it without all of these supporters, and we thank everyone for coming out again.”
Manning said the financial support is very important.
“We are creating leaders for tomorrow,” Manning said. “These kids are able to raise the funds to be able to go to college or to pursue higher education.”
In market steers, grand champion was Ross Hinnant of St. Mary’s 4-H Club, with Jackson Pipkin of Rock Ridge 4-H Club awarded reserve champion.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Ross, who also placed first in senior showmanship for steers. “First of all, I have a good calf. I worked with him plenty, showed him a few times. He’s still a little wild, but I think he looks good.”
Liza Sullivan of St. Mary’s 4-H Club was reserve champion in steer senior showmanship.
Best county calf winner was Faith Jones of the Kickin’ Klovers 4-H Club with producer Harrell Family Farms.
“As a 4-H’er, I am so thankful for the buyers who come out here and support us,” Faith said. “It does help us and it does show how great this organization is, and it helps us mostly with college. We are thankful for every single dollar. They don’t know how much it means to us.”
In steer junior showmanship, Jackson Pipkin was grand champion with sister Ruby-Ann Pipkin earning the reserve champion position.
Logan Ballance won both grand champion and reserve champion for market hog with two strong pigs. Logan also won first and second place in crossbred market hog.
Logan won first place in purebred market hog. Sister Riley Ballance earned second place.
Riley Ballance, also of St. Mary’s 4-H Club, won first place in junior swine showmanship with second place going to Blake Engledove of the Rock Ridge 4-H Club.
Logan won grand champion in senior swine showmanship. Avery Bissette won reserve champion.
Sharp Farms won best county hog with exhibitor Alyson Sharp of the Rock Ridge 4-H Club.
In the costume contest, Paisley Cook won first place with her bumblebee rendition, with Bryant Messer second and Molly Sullivan third.
Bryant Messer won the swine high average daily gain plaque.
Wood Vick won the steer high average daily gain plaque.
Ken Hubbard won the swine Go Getter Award.
Rachel Thomason won the Nahunta Feed Supply Scholarship.
Josie Harrell, Caleb Heath and Rachel Thomason won scholarships from the Wilson County Young Farmers Association.
Avery Leah Bissette won the Connie H. Jernigan Retired County Extension Director 4-H Scholarship.
Faith Jones won the Kathy and Ellis Williford Wilson County 4-H Scholarship.
Lin Scott won the Gov. Jim and Carolyn Hunt Scholarship.
Rachel Thomason won the Walter Earle 4-H Scholarship.
Graduating seniors recognized were Graison Nichols, Lin Scott, D.J. Scott, Robbie Sharp, Mason Hinnant, Caleb Health, Josie Harrell, Rachel Thomason, Faith Jones, Finia Gamble and Hunter Aliff.
Winner in the celebrity showmanship event this year was Beth Pugh Farrell, an agricultural programs specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Wilson County office and the Wilson County Livestock Association organize the show and sale each March.