Home Local News Local 4-H Members Earn Awards, Recognition at N.C. State Fair

Local 4-H Members Earn Awards, Recognition at N.C. State Fair

Coleman Berry with the Senior Class at the 2017 N.C. State Fair Meat Goat Show.
Contributed photo.

RALEIGH – The theme at this year’s 150th North Carolina State Fair was “Nothing Could Be Finer,” and Richmond County 4-H’ers proved just that by their strong showing at events this year.

Local youth exhibited in the Junior Meat Goat, Junior Meat Goat Showmanship, Junior Doe Goat, and Junior Doe Showmanship Shows during the NC State Fair. 

The 4-H Livestock Club was busy for several days at the fair.  During the Junior Meat Goat Show, eight Richmond County youth displayed their finished products.  They have been working with their animals since June, and sold their goats during the fair. 

Richmond County youth competing in the Junior Meat Goat Show included Ella Shelley, Rhett Shelley, Lexi Reep, Ava Berry, Coleman Berry, Tobey Lunceford, DeLani Reep and Savannah Shepard. 

Those who placed in the top 10 of their class include:  Ella Shelley placed fourth in class one, and Coleman Berry placed second in class nine.

Coleman Berry was in the wether championship drive. Ava and Coleman Berry received a showmanship pin and were selected to return to the ring for the championship drive for the meat goat wether showmanship class.

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Iron Horse Auction Company and Tractor Supply Company purchased the Grand Champion market wether which was also the “Got to Be N.C. Champion” goat for $17,500.  This goat was purchased and shown by Caleb Hinson from Haywood County, originally from the John and Velma McInnis Farm in Ellerbe.  The “Got to Be N.C.” award proves that there are goats with excellent genetics not only in North Carolina, but even more specifically in Richmond County. 

The Richmond County youth did just as well in the Junior Doe Goat and Junior Doe Showmanship shows.  Four Richmond County youth displayed their commercial breeding does.  They have been working with their animals since June, too, and the animals returned after the State Fair to the farm to be bred.  Youth competing in the Junior Meat Goat Doe Show included Ava Berry, Coleman Berry, Shepard, and Gavin Sessoms.

Those who placed in the top 10 of their class include: Ava Berry placed first and won the  “Got to Be N.C.” doe in class one; Shepard placed second in class four, Coleman Berry placed 3rd in class nine; Coleman Berry placed fourth, Sessoms placed fifth, and Shepard placed sixth, all in class 11.

Ava Berry and Shepard were in the championship drive for the doe show.  Ava Berry, Shepard, and Coleman Berry all received showmanship pins and were selected to return to the ring for the championship drive in the meat goat doe showmanship class.  

Congratulations are in order to all of these young people and special thanks to all of the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and community members who traveled to the fair to support these youth as they strive “To Make The Best Better” in Richmond County.