Brothers set to compete in state fair livestock competition

HOOKERTON — A trio of Greene County brothers — Landon Moye, 13, Davis Moye, 11, and Carter Crumpler, 4 — will pack up their goats and head to the North Carolina State Fair today to compete in the livestock competition.

The boys, who will represent the Greene County 4-H, will be heading to Raleigh for their final show of the season.

“We have a show circuit that starts in the fall,” the boys’ mother, Christy Crumpler, said. “They have about 10 shows that they compete in.”

Crumpler said her sons have traveled all over Eastern North Carolina competing in various shows this fall, but admits the state fair is the climax of the season.

“Most of those shows had 100 or so goats competing,” she said. “But the state fair will bring hundreds of competitors from all over the state.”

Crumpler said each boy is responsible for taking care of their goats, which means taking the time to feed, worm, groom and exercise each one.

“If a child raised their own animals, they must care for it every day,” Eve Honeycutt, interim Greene County Cooperative Extension director, said. “Most children share the responsibility of daily chores such as feeding and watering.”

Davis, who has entered livestock competitions for the past six years, has 11 goats, while Landon has four and Carter has one. Both Landon and Carter have competed for two years.

Honeycutt, who serves as the cooperative extension livestock agent for both Lenoir and Greene counties, said youth also take time to condition their animals for show.

“Youth must walk their animals daily and get them used to certain stimuli that they will be exposed to in the show ring,” she said. “For examples, some judges will touch animals in certain places to feel for good muscle tone and quality, so the animals have to get used to being handled.”

Honeycutt said about a dozen children from Greene County and 17 from Lenoir County will be heading to compete in the livestock competition at the state fair. The competition began Friday and will wrap up with the market goats today and Tuesday.

Raising a quality show animal can be an expensive endeavor, but it shouldn’t be a deterrent, according to Honeycutt.

“There are many livestock producers who raise good show quality animals, but have no one to exhibit (them),” she said. “Some producers will offer to let children show their animals without any extra cost to the child.”

Honeycutt said that 4-H is a great way for children to learn how interact with animals.

“Children bond with these animals and usually treat them as pets,” she said. “One of the most amazing aspects of a livestock project is the change that occurs within the child one they are given the responsibility of caring for another creature.

“It makes children realize that every creature has a place in the world.”

Davis said he’s enjoyed participating in 4-H and plans to continue raising livestock.

“I really like showing,” he said. “I like 4-H because it’s a good education and it teaches you a lot about livestock.”

Crumpler said that her family has really immensely from participating in the program.

“It’s a really good thing for the children,” she said. “It keeps them involved and doing something.

“It’s also something we can all go and do as a family.”

Sarah Campbell can be reached at 252-559-1076 or scampbell@freedomenc.com.