The 78^th annual Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show and Sale was recently held on April 9^th and 10^th in Hillsborough, NC. The tradition began on April 24, 1946, in Durham. This is the 36^th year the show was held at the Central Carolina Holstein Association Barn in Orange Grove.  This event is open to 4-H and FFA youth ages 5-18 in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, and Wake Counties.

Alamance County had seven 4-H members showing 11 animals in this year’s show.  One of those 4-H members were showing for the first time.  Winners from Alamance County include the following.  Caleb Schmid exhibited a market hog winning Junior (ages 8-10) Showmanship Champion and 3^rd place in his market hog type class.  Corey Schmid exhibited a market hog winning Junior Showmanship Reserve Champion and 4^th place in his market hog type class.  David Schmid exhibited a market hog as a Cloverbud.  Cloverbud youth are ages 5-7 and show non-competitively.

Elaina LaRusso exhibited two breeding ewes and placed 1^st and 2^nd in type classes.  Elaina also placed 2^nd in the 4-H 11–12-year-old project record book category.  Madelyn LaRusso exhibited two breeding ewes and placed 5^th in intermediate showmanship and 1^st and 2^nd place in type classes.

Hutch Robertson exhibited a meat goat doe and a market goat.  He placed 2^nd in the market goat type class.  Sage Robertson exhibited two meat goat does and a market goat.  She placed 3^rd in the senior showmanship class.  She also placed 2^nd and 5^th in meat goat doe type classes and 1^st in the market goat type class.

There are also several special honor awards given out each year after the show.  One of the awards is called the Rob Hogan Leadership and Stewardship Award.  The award’s purpose is to recognize a youth livestock exhibitor that demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, environmental conservation, and animal welfare.  The recipient will have gone above and beyond to learn about new livestock husbandry techniques and implement them into their livestock project.  The selected youth will exhibit creativity and a commitment to learning.  The youth should also be an active member of FFA and/or 4-H and have been or currently be involved in leadership development roles and/or activities within these organizations.  We are excited to announce that Elaina LaRusso won this special award this year!

It takes a lot of community support from civic groups, businesses, and individuals in sponsorship funds to put together an event like this. N.C. Cooperative Extension agents and vocational agriculture teachers work with the youth to advise on raising and showing animals. Youth show several different types of animals in this event, including hogs, sheep, goats, and beef cattle.

To learn more about the Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show and Sale and/or 4-H in Alamance County, please contact Sarah Maddry, 4-H Extension Agent or Lauren Langley, Livestock Extension Agent. You can also learn more by visiting our website:

Facebook page and the show website.