Whatever you parents have been doing that is making your children so successful, please keep doing it. A couple Rowan County children have earned even more tremendous honors.
Beverly Hampton of Mount Ulla was elected North Carolina FFA vice president at the 83rd North Carolina FFA Convention in Raleigh. She is the daughter of Cynthia and Henry Hampton and is a 2011 graduate of West Rowan High School, where Jason Chester, Clark Adams, and Heather Wade were her agricultural education/FFA instructors.
Hampton is also no stranger to Rowan County 4-H, being very active with sheep, meat goat and poultry projects.
She will attend N.C. State University this fall, majoring in poultry science, with the goal of becoming a food animal veterinarian.
Hampton was elected to a one-year term of service and will serve as an ambassador for youth, agriculture and education. She will travel over 100 days in the coming year visiting FFA chapters, meeting with agribusiness leaders, and representing North Carolina FFA in various state and national meetings.
Rowan County only had one representative at the North Carolina 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, conducted at the N.C. State University Beef Unit, but Justin Teeter of Mount Ulla was the contestís defending champion (he also won the North Carolina FFA Livestock Judging Contest this past spring). He came within a whisker of defending his title, placing second overall. He won sheep, was second in beef cattle and oral reasons, 12th in hogs and 14th in meat goats.
All North Carolina State Fair junior market lambs (wethers), meat goat wethers and market barrows have to be tagged and inspected by an NCDA&CS representative by Sept. 3.
To facilitate this, NCDA&CS will be tagging market lambs and meat goat wethers at the following activities and locations:
Aug. 5, Macon Fairgrounds, 5-8 p.m., call to confirm.
Aug. 6, WNC Fletcher, noon to 4 p.m.
Aug. 12, Sampson County Livestock Arena, Clinton, call to confirm.
Aug. 13, AGR Eastern Showmanship Circuit, Johnston County.
Aug. 20, Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, call to confirm.
Aug. 24, Alleghany County Ag Fair, Sparta.
Aug. 27, Carteret County Meat Goat Show.
Sept. 1, Hickory American Legion Fair.
Sept. 3, Eastern Showmanship Circuit, Elizabeth City
Exhibitors can also call Ben Carpenter for an appointment at 919-270-8917 by Aug. 8.
Junior market barrows will be tagged on the farm. Coordinate with your county extension agent.
In conjunction with Southern States, Rowan County Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a Sheep and Meat Goat Show Clinic Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Piedmont Research Station Crops Unit. Experts in their field will cover selection, nutrition, management, showmanship, veterinary care and more. Lunch will be provided and the cost of the clinic is free.
I hope to also have the clinic as an N.C. State Fair market lamb and meat goat wether tagging site.
Please contact the Rowan County Cooperative Extension Office at 704-216-8970 to register for the show clinic so an accurate lunch count can be made.

Brad Johnson is an extension agent specializing in livestock and dairy at the Rowan County Cooperative Extension Service.