On Sunday, three new members were inducted into the State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame for their contribution to the North Carolina’s livestock industry and the State Fair livestock shows. The enshrinement ceremony was held in the Livestock Hall of Fame Room in the Jim Graham Building during the N.C. State Fair. Honorees came from the beef, dairy, and sheep and dairy goats categories.
John Hayes Gregory, Beef
Everett Cheek, Dairy
Carvel C. Cheves Jr., Sheep & Dairy Goats
In the beef category, John Hayes Gregory of Wilkesboro was enshrined posthumously for developing several Fair beef shows and improving beef herding techniques across the state. Gregory was a professor at N.C. State University, manager of TexasGulf’s Pamlico Farms and a livestock specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service. He also served on the N.C. Beef Cattle Improvement Committee, was president of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and was director of the American National Cattlemen’s Association. Gregory’s wife and children accepted the award on his behalf.
In the dairy category, Everett Cheek of Chapel Hill was enshrined posthumously for his dedication to the Fair dairy shows. Cheek started showing cattle with his brother as a young man and continued to help his own children, as well as neighborhood children show at the Fair for decades. He raised Ayshire cattle at Lemola Farms in Chapel Hill, and his Ayshires have been a large part of the livestock shows, with up to 25 cows shown a year. Cheek’s wife and children accepted the award on his behalf.
Carvel C. Cheves Jr. of Bunn was enshrined into the sheep and dairy goats category for his work with the sheep and goat shows at the Fair. Cheves works behind the scenes each year to make sure the shows run smoothly. On his farm, he provides space for young exhibitors to train and prepare for shows at the State Fair and county fairs across North Carolina. Cheves accepted the award in the presence of friends and family.