Jennifer Graham, 6, demonstrates her determination to make her goat, Ballerina, behave during the annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show held Thursday, April, 24, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. Jennifer is the daughter of Justin Graham of Mount Olive. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Seating was at a premium April 24 during the annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show so in some cases the fencing also served as seats. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Judge Hayden Riddick, left, watches the children and their animals during the April 24 Wayne County Livestock Show. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Lesandro Joyner shows off two ribbons won as his pig, Baconater, takes a rest during the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show held Thursday, April 24, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com).
Some participants in the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show hung their ribbons on their animals’ pens. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The annualk Wayne County Junior Livestock Show was held Thursday, April 24, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com).
Emery Rose, 5, brushes her goat, Cookie, before entering the ring at the Wayne County Junior Livestock Show held Thursday, April 24, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. Her siblings, Miranda Rose, 7, and Jeter, 8, also competed. It was the first time for all three. They are the children of Joel and Kimberly Rose of Grantham. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com).
This goat appears to be living up to the saying that the animals will eat just about everything as it nibbles on its handler’s shirt. They were waiting to enter the ring at Wayne County Junior Livestock Show held Thursday, April 24, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com).
DUDLEY — Show business can be tough even for a pig — just ask Baconator.
After strutting his stuff Thursday morning, April 24, during the annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds and winning two early ribbons by the way, Baconator stuffed his snout into the water trough in his pen then promptly nestled himself into the sawdust for a well-deserved rest.
“He is just tired, but he earned it though,” said his handler, Lesandro Joyner. “So it really doesn’t matter — good job.
A student at Wayne Preparatory Academy in Goldsboro, Joyner became interested in participating in the show last year after watching his sister work with her pig.
“So I said, hey I want to do that, too, because it kind of looked fun,” he said. “I thought it would be silly to make a name Baconator because it is a good meal that I like to eat a lot sometimes.”
He was joined at the show by his sisters, Callie Joyner and Brooklyn Joyner.
Pointing to Baconator’s first- and fifth-place ribbons, Joyner said, “It has been fun. I am pretty excited to win more.
“I was nervous for my first time, and it is actually pretty nice. I am ready to win another ribbon. I can’t wait.”
Baconator, who was still enjoying his respite, didn’t seem to care one way or the other.
Started in 1949, the show provides the opportunity for learning experiences in livestock production by developing basic skills in selection, management, exhibition, and marketing.
In prior years participants sold their animals at auction following the show, but since last year they have done so by raising sponsorship money throughout the event.
Competition was in two categories — market where the animals are judged, and showmanship where the children are judged on how they manage their animal.
And it is a family tradition for many.
The Joyners weren’t the only siblings showing animals — either pigs, goats or cows, or some combination of the three.
Siblings Emery Rose, 5, Miranda Rose, 7, and Jeter, 8, were showing their goats, Cookie, Thunderbolt and Caramel, respectively
They are the children of Joel and Kimberly Rose of Grantham.
“It is actually their first time showing anything,” Rose said. “He (Jeter) plays sports all of the time so he is trying something different.”
People at their church are active in Four-H, and his wife talked to them about how to get it set up.
“It’s fun,” Rose said. “They have had fun the whole time doing it. My little girl, she wants to do it again next year so we will probably get a goat at the house for this coming time and try it there. But they have all had fun with it.
“It has been good. I lived on a farm, but I never did 4-H. My uncle had cows and pigs.”
The children had been working with the animals for about three months prior to the show.
“They went through the 4-H program so we had to go to where all of the goats were,” Rose said. “They kept them feed and all of that. They shaved them yesterday (Wednesday) and did everything there.
“So, as I was saying, I think the next one we will get one for home and do all of it at home. It’s good for them to see everything and how it works.”
The fairground’s parking lot was nearly full for the event that got under way at 9 a.m. and lasted throughout the day including the showings, awards ceremony and participants showcase.
“It is the most participants that we have had in the past several years; we have 65 this year,” said Stefani Sykes, Wayne County Cooperative Extension agent agriculture-livestock.
Youths ages 5 to 18 participated with the largest age range between 5 to 14.
“It is mostly pigs and goats,” Sykes said. “The cows, they are so big and need so much space and it costs a little bot more to feed, so they are a little bit trickier to have.
“It is great and our new set up (of getting the animals in and out of the ring) is working well.”
Southern Wayne High School has more goats this year than in the past so that added participant numbers, Sykes said.
“We also had a pig project and a goat project through (Cooperative) Extension where we were housing animals in a kind of central location and the kids come and practice several times a week,” she added.
“That has boosted some participation where kids who may live in a neighborhood or live on base or something can participate, but they don’t necessarily have to have the animal at their house.”
Extension has worked over the past several years to rebuild the show following a decline during COVID, Sykes said.
“So we are very happy with the turnout this year.,” she said. “There are two classes — showmanship in which the child is judged, questions the judge may ask, how well they control the animal and market in which the animal is judged. So they go in the ring twice.
“All of them are Wayne County students or participating Wayne County 4-H. It (show) is very important with Wayne County being a big agricultural county, we want to make sure the kids understand that even if they are not directly related to that.”
Sykes added, “These livestock projects are a good way to give them that introduction without too much of a long-term commitment.”
N.C. State University graduate Hayden Riddick was the judge for the second year in a row.
THE WINNERS
CLOVERBIRD
Novice participants ages 5 to 7 were recognized as Cloverbird showmen. They are:
Swine: J.W. Thornton, Ellie Barbour, Rylee Vinson, Charlotte Lane, Stocks Price, Tessa Sanderson, Davis Cauley, John Rex Roberson, Lane Tyndall, Kate Thornton, Ford Barbour and Reese Massey.
Goat: Emery Rose, Brynn Hobbs, Malachi Miller, Jennifer Graham, Bless Hobbs, Jeffrey Phillips and Miranda Ray.
Cattle: Lainey Sauls.
SHOWMANSHIP
Novice swine grand champion: Tessa Sanderson, sponsored by Mike Jones Farms.
Novice swine reserve champion: Reese Massey, sponsored by Becky Craig.
Junior swine grand champion: Spate Sanderson, sponsored by Mt. Olive Pickle Co.
Junior swine reserve champion: Wade Roberson, sponsored by Carolina Overhead.
Intermediate swine grand champion: Ava Watson, sponsored by Mt. Olive Pickle Co.
Intermediate swine reserve champion: Parker Herring, sponsored by Crawford Henderson.
Senior swine grand champion: Payton Kirby, sponsored by Spiron Solutions.
Senior swine reserve champion: Ethen Tyndall, sponsored by Farmers Ace Hardware.
Novice goat grand champion: Bless Hobbs, sponsored by Atlantic Casualty Insurance.
Novice goat reserve champion: John Rex Roberson, sponsored by Carolina Overhead.
Junior goat grand champion: Madelyn Davis, sponsored by Grate Sauces and Rubs.
Junior goat reserve champion: Jeter Rose, sponsored by Carolina Overhead.
Intermediate goat grand champion: Lila Britt, sponsored by Buck’s Fire Extinguishers.
Intermediate goat reserve champion: Logan Roberson, sponsored by Carolina Overhead.
Senior goat grand champion: Ysabella Bylica, sponsored by The Andersons Inc.
Senior goat reserve champion: Akeriana Jones, sponsored by Carolina Overhead.
Novice cattle grand champion: Bless Hobbs, sponsored by Spiron Solutions.
Novice cattle reserve champion: Lainey Sauls, sponsored by Howell Funeral Home.
Junior cattle grand champion: Wade Roberson, sponsored by The Andersons Inc.
Junior cattle reserve champion: Logan Roberson, sponsored by Cheryl Ellis.
Intermediate cattle grand champion: Bryleigh Sauls, sponsored by Dr. Zeimer.
Intermediate cattle reserve champion: Brooklyn Sauls, sponsored by Eddie Pitzer.
MARKET
Grand champion market hog sponsored by Carolina Swine and Darryl Floars Auto Group; shown by Spate Sanderson.
Reserve champion market hog sponsored by County Line Trading, Davis Family Farms and Nahunta Feed; shown by Tessa Sanderson.
Grand champion market goat sponsored by Holly Grove Goat Dairy and Cooker Feed Mill; shown by J.W. Thornton.
Reserve champion market goat sponsored by Carolina Pool and Jersey Mikes; shown by J.W. Thornton.
Grand champion market steer sponsored by Western Sizzlin’ and Stromberg Foods; shown by Brooklyn Sauls.
Reserve champion market steer sponsored by Edmundson Springs Cattle and The Firm NC; shown by Bryleigh Sauls.
Grand champion heifer sponsored by Conquest Insurance and Ryan Roberson Farming; shown by Bless Hobbs.
Reserve champion heifer sponsored by Benton & Sons and Case Farms; shown by Brooklyn Sauls.
RECORD BOOK WINNERS
FFA project record books: Morgan Brimberry, first place; Lakelyn Aman, second place; Haley Wingate, third place.
4-H project record book, 8-10 years old: Jared Talton, first place; Piper Capri, second place; Wade Roberson, third place.
4-H project record book, 11-12 years old: Spate Sanderson, first place.
4-H project record book, 13-15 years old: Lila Britt, first place; Parker Herring; second place; Ava Watson, third place.
4-H project record book, 16-18 years old: Payton Kirby, first place; Gideon Linton, second place.
