Three Alamance County 4-H youth were recognized at the N.C. State Fair for their outstanding achievements.  Robert “Dale” Flick won the Grand Champion Little Gobbler at the Youth Market Turkey Show.  Youth competed in three age divisions: little gobbler (5-8 years old), junior (9-13 years old), and senior (14-18 years old).  Dale won the Grand Champion title out of 45 participants.

Sage Robertson won the Reserve Champion Market Turkey out of 136 junior and senior participants.  Her turkey was auctioned off during the Sale of Champions on October 23, 2022 for $5,000, purchased by NC Farm Bureau and NC Soybean Producers Association.  Sage is awarded $3,000 of the $5,000 as a scholarship and the remaining goes in the general scholarship fund for livestock exhibitors.  Sage also exhibited meat goats during the N.C. State Fair.

Aiden Kernodle was awarded the Senator James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship Award for $1,000 after the Sale of Champions.  This award is presented to an outstanding youth who exhibited beef heifers.  Mark Speed, son of the late James Speed, presented the scholarship award to Aiden.  The scholarship continues the legacy that Senator Speed created as a 32-year member of the North Carolina State Legislature and through his commitment and dedication to agricultural interests.  To honor his memory, the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association established an NC State endowment in 2010 to present an academic scholarship to an outstanding achiever in the Junior Beef Program.   In 2016, the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, Inc. began contributing an additional $500 to the Speed Award on an annual basis.   The NC Small Farms Association based in Franklin County also contributes the award plaques.  Aiden demonstrates strong leadership skills, integrity, good sportsmanship, achievement of goals, and an advocate to today’s agricultural industry.  He is currently an outstanding high school senior with the goal to study Animal Science at a top agriculture university.  Aiden also exhibited a market turkey and beef heifer during the N.C. State Fair.

To learn more about 4-H, showing livestock and/or market turkeys please contact Sarah Maddry, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent or Lauren Langley, Livestock Extension Agent at 336-570-6740.

ABOUT N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

N.C. Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and local governments statewide. Extension professionals in all 100 counties, and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, connect millions of North Carolinians with research-based information and technology from the universities. Educational programs specialize in agriculture, food and nutrition, 4-H youth development, community development and the environment. Find your local center.