North Carolina Awards $67,500 to Young Livestock Farmers

Record participation at last year's North Carolina State Fair has paid off big for students who poured their hearts into raising livestock.

Thanks to strong turnout at the 2025 State Fair Sale of Champions, 33 high school seniors and college students will receive scholarships this year. Thirty-two students earned $2,000 awards, while one student received a $2,500 scholarship sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina.

The Youth Livestock Scholarship program rewards students who competed in junior livestock or market turkey shows at the state fair. Since launching in 2015, the program has distributed $677,500 to young people pursuing higher education.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler presented the awards in Raleigh to students from across the state. Several recipients hail from eastern North Carolina counties, including Wilson, Edgecombe, Wayne, Wake, Johnston, and Franklin counties.

"This scholarship program continues to invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders and advocates," Troxler said during the ceremony. "I am proud that they all have a solid understanding of where their food comes from because of their experience showing livestock."

The funding comes from a portion of sales at the State Fair's annual Sale of Champions event. When fair attendees support the livestock auction, they directly invest in students' futures. The number of scholarships awarded each year depends on both qualified applicants and how much money the previous year's sale generated.

A selection committee reviews applications blind, removing all identifying information before evaluation. Students earn recognition based on their State Fair participation, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and a required essay.

Among this year's winners, Logan Ballance of Lucama will attend NC State University. Charlotte Wood of Willow Spring, already enrolled at NC State, received the top $2,500 Farm Credit scholarship. Caleb Davis of Zebulon is heading to Iowa State University to continue his agricultural studies.

The Ripple Effect

These scholarships do more than help with tuition. They honor students who wake up before dawn to feed animals, who learn responsibility through caring for living creatures, and who understand agriculture as both a science and a calling.

Many recipients plan to study agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, or related fields. They represent the future of North Carolina farming, an industry that remains vital to the state's economy and food security.

The program shows how community support creates lasting change. Fair visitors who bid on livestock at the Sale of Champions become part of a chain that ends with educated young people returning to strengthen rural communities.

Nearly $700,000 invested over 11 years means hundreds of students have received help pursuing their dreams without crushing debt.

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