Charlotte Lane said the toughest part of showing her pig, Gilbert, was when he got excited and ran during the novice category at the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. She described him as ‘pigheaded.’ (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Even when their animals acted up, participants in the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale kept their eyes on the judge. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Bless Hobbs is all smiles as she holds up the Grand Champion banner after her entry won in the goat category at the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Bryleigh Sauls’ entry won Grand Champion (steer) in the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. At left is Hayden Riddick of Corapeake and a student at N.C. State University, who judged the event. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Participants in the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale herd their entries into the arena Thursday morning. The annual event was held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Bless Hobbs keeps her eye on the judge as she controls her goat by resting its head on her shoulder. Her entry won Grand Champion (goat) in the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Brooklyn Sauls’ entry won Reserve Champion (steer). At left is Hayden Riddick of Corapeake and a student at N.C. State University, who judged the event. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Madelyn Davis’ entry won Reserve Champion (goat). At left is Hayden Riddick of Corapeake and a student at N.C. State University, who judged the event. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Spate Sanderson’s entry won Reserve Champion (swine). Spate also received the Sportsmanship Award. At right is Hayden Riddick of Corapeake and a student at N.C. State University, who judged the event. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Tessa Sanderson shows her excitement and banner after her entry won Grand Champion (swine) Thursday in the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Sisters Bryleigh Sauls, left, and Brooklyn Sauls show their steers Thursday during the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. Bryleigh’s entry won Grand Champion and Brooklyn’s won Reserve Champion. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Madelyn Davis keeps her eye on the judge even though her goat nibbles on the tail of the goat in front during Thursday’s Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. Her entry won Reserve Champion. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — For some participants, the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale is more than just an educational event — it is about family and tradition.
Siblings competed against each other — and in some cases carried on the tradition begun by their parents — during the annual event held Wednesday and Thursday, April 3 and 4, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
For example, twins Bryleigh and Brooklyn Sauls competed against each other in the steer category claiming Grand Champion and Reserve Champio, respectively.
Also, siblings Tessa and Spate Sanderson won Grand Champion (swine) and Reserve Champion (swine), respectively. Spate also received the Sportsmanship Award.
In the goat category, Bless Hobbs took Grand Champion and Madelyn Davis took Reserve Champion.
Wednesday was weigh-in and preparation day with the show on Thursday for participants ranging in age from 5 to 18. Competition was in two categories: market where the animals are judged, and showmanship where the children are judged on how they manage their animal.
Started in 1949, the event provides the opportunity for learning experiences in livestock production by developing basic skills in selection, management, exhibition, and marketing.
Unlike previous years, there was no auction — instead participants sold their animals by raising sponsorship money throughout the event.
One of the younger participants, Charlotte Lane, 6, said she was kind of nervous showing Gilbert in the novice category in swine.
“I just thought up the (name),” she added.
The daughter of Josh and Tracie Lane of Princeton, Charlotte’s brother Parker also participated in the show.
Charlotte agreed that Gilbert could be stubborn at times and required a lot of work. That includes watering, feeding and rubbing him down.
“I work with him mostly every day,” she added.
The toughest part is that Gilbert gets excited, Charlotte said.
Asked how she would describe Gilbert, she answered “pigheaded.”
“They get excited when they get out in the open,” Josh Lane said.
However, despite all of the work and being nervous, Charlotte said she had fun and would like to do it again.
Charlotte said she wanted to show Gilbert because her father had shown hogs.
Asked if she thought she had done a better job than her father, Charlotte glanced up at him, smiled and shook her head yes.
“I am sure she did,” her dad agreed.
“I showed here as well,” her father said. “We live on a small farm, and we have a barn that me and my grandfather built while I was in high school for show pigs.
“That barn has been empty for 20 years, and I have been wanting to get it filled back up with some pigs. They (Charlotte and Parker) were excited about doing it so we encouraged it (show participation) of course. We are looking in to doing other animals.”
Parker wants to either show a lamb or goat next year, Lane said. However, they still want to show pigs, too, he added.
“They enjoy it,” Lane said.
Children benefit from participating in the show, said Lane, who showed animals while attending Rosewood High School through FFA.
He also showed animals at the N.C. State Fair a couple of time.
“The biggest thing is just the responsibility, and they have to understand that the animals have to be taken care of — they are just not put out,” he said. “They can’t feed themselves and to make sure they have their own water.
“So, it is just an extra responsibility. It teaches them, and they get to learn more about the anatomy, where different cuts of pork come from. Those are the main things our kids took away from it.”
