Farmers, producers review year
By Josh Ellerbrock
Published in News on February 25, 2014 1:46 PM
Full Size
The Wayne County Livestock Development Association awarded eight scholarships to Wayne County students during their 66th Annual Meeting. From left to right, they are Alex Linton, Micah Lee, Randa Boykin, Hannah Lee, Amanda Wheaton, Nathan Barwick, Ashlynn Spell and Madisen Barwick.
Full Size
The Sauls and the Barwicks didn't expect to be awarded for their dedication to the Wayne County Livestock Development Association during the association's 66th Annual Meeting. Pictured here are Mike and Sherry Saul (on the left) for receiving the Service Award, and the Barwicks (family on the right) for receiving the 2013 Outstanding Producer Award. The family consists of (from left to right) Eva Barwick, Bennie Barwick, Jensen Barwick, Madisen Barwick and Valerie Barwick.
Thanks to a week and a half of sunshine, last year's Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair had the second-highest paid attendance ever and helped the Wayne County Livestock Development Association earn $197,000 over the previous year, association President Curtis Shivar said at the association's 66th annual meeting Monday night.
"The weather was beautiful, with 10 days of sunshine. It may have gotten a little hot on a couple of days, but at least we didn't have any rainy days. That doesn't happen often," Fair Manager Eddie Pitzer said.
Shivar said it was close to being the most attended fair ever and could have gained the top spot if a dozen more people would have attended.
Last year, the fair saw a few changes as the livestock arena was converted into a Youth Exhibit Building dedicated to junior exhibits, 4-H and hands-on activities. That move opened up additional space for displaying competitive exhibits.
The livestock shows were judged under a big tent close to the grandstand.
For the 2014 Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, fair planners are looking to keep the same layout. The fair will be held Sept. 25 through Oct. 4.
Also, like last year, the association is not planning to have a swine show due to a highly contagious disease, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, that can wipe out farrowing operations and has spread to Wayne County. The disease does not affect people or other animals.
Fairgoers should also see a few upgrades to the fairground facilities during the 2014 fair. Currently, the association is in the design phase of new restroom facilities to replace the main restrooms and the camper restroom. Construction should be completed by this summer.
Another successful event for the association's 2013 year was the association's Junior Livestock Show and Sale.
"We thank the exhibitors and their parents for their efforts and express appreciation to all buyers and supporters," Shivar said.
A total of 64 youths participated in the show and raised $76,500 through their projects.
The combination of the fair's high attendance and the earnings of the Junior Livestock Show and Sale helped the association have a very successful year overall, Shivar said.
Part of the organization's success is in its scholarship program. The association was able to give out eight scholarships to local Wayne County students worth a combined total of $18,000 during the meeting. Since 1986, the association has distributed $162,500 to 115 Wayne County high schoolers.
The association awards three different levels of scholarships: $2,400 scholarship for a high school senior attending college, $1,200 for a senior to attend a community college and $1,200 for a senior transferring to a senior college or university.
Scholarship recipients at the $2,400 level were: Madisen Barwick, Spring Creek High School, attending Campbell University for nursing; Randa Boykin, Wayne School of Engineering, attending NCSU for environmental science, Hannah Lee, Lee Christian Academy, attending University of Mount Olive for English Communications, Micah Lee, Lee Christian Academy, attending University of Mount Olive for biology, Alex Linton, Country View Academy, attending University of Mount Olive for agribusiness, Ashlynn Spell, Rosewood High School, attending NCSU for agricultural business management and Amanda Wheaton, Wayne Early/ Middle College High School, attending UNC-Pembroke for poultry or animal science.
Nathan Barwick, of Southern Wayne High School, received a $1,200 scholarship to transfer to Wayne Community College for nursing.