WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — A Wayne County student has been recognized among North Carolina’s top young agricultural leaders after being awarded a 2026 N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarship.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently announced that 33 students from across the state have been selected to receive scholarships through the N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarship Program. The program honors students who have participated in the N.C. State Fair’s junior livestock or market turkey shows while demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
Representing Wayne County is Gideon Linton of Mount Olive, who currently attends the University of Mount Olive. Linton was awarded a $2,000 scholarship through the program.
Since its inception in 2015, the scholarship program has awarded more than $677,500 to students pursuing higher education while continuing their involvement in agriculture. Scholarships are funded through a percentage of proceeds generated during the annual N.C. State Fair Sale of Champions.
“This scholarship program continues to invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders and advocates, and I am proud that they all have a solid understanding of where their food comes from because of their experience showing livestock,” Troxler said. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients.”
This year, 32 scholarships valued at $2,000 each were awarded, along with one special $2,500 scholarship sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina.
Recipients were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated their involvement in N.C. State Fair livestock programs, academic performance, extracurricular activities, and a written essay. To ensure fairness, identifying information was removed from applications before being reviewed by a selection committee.
Linton’s selection highlights the continued impact of agricultural education and youth livestock programs in Wayne County, a community with deep roots in farming and agribusiness. His achievement reflects both his dedication to agriculture and the opportunities available to students who participate in livestock education programs across the state.
The N.C. State Fair Youth Livestock Scholarship Program is designed to encourage young people to pursue higher education while developing the skills and knowledge needed to become future leaders in North Carolina agriculture.
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