Harris Teeter paid $24,000 for the grand champion steer raised by Taylor Ridling of Salisbury recently at the Junior Livestock Auction at the North Carolina State Fair.
Ridling is a student at N.C. State University.
The grocery store chain purchased more than $46,000 worth of livestock, and the money goes back in the pockets of the young winners. Harris Teeter placed the winning bids on the Grand Champion steer, lamb, barrow and turkey.
“The money raised goes back to the children showing the animals, rewards them for their hard work and perseverance, and helps toward their future education,” said Fred Morganthall, president of Harris Teeter.
The grand champion barrow was shown by Wyatt Scott of Lucama and raised $8,500; the grand champion lamb was raised by Alyson Moore from Selma and brought $7,000; and the grand champion turkey was shown by Garrett See of Raleigh and raised $6,600.
Harris Teeter is committed to helping eliminating hunger in the communities it serves. The protein from the livestock auction will be sold and the dollars will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central & Eastern N.C.