Giving Voice to Agriculture

There are all kinds of sounds associated with an event like the N.C. State Fair. Teenagers screaming on a ride. Carnival workers offering to guess your weight or age. Announcements that a lost child has been found.

In the Jim Graham Building, the familiar sound is often the voice of Weston McCorkle ‘92, ‘95 MR. Since his days as a student at NC State, McCorkle has worked as a volunteer announcer for the livestock shows held each year during the fair. He has primarily worked with the junior livestock shows, announcing the names of the kids who have managed to raise a winning beef or dairy cow.

This is helping young people learn about livestock, learn about caring for another living being.

“I really enjoy watching the youth exhibit a project they’ve been working on for multiple months,” says McCorkle, 51, of Willow Spring, N.C. “This is helping young people learn about livestock, learn about caring for another living being.”

McCorkle’s responsibilities during the 5-6 days he’s at the fair fall into two primary categories. From his perch next to the two show rings, McCorkle uses one microphone to let spectators know what show they’re watching (on a recent morning it was British breeds and then crossbred market steers) and then announce the names of the winners. He then picks up another microphone to let people in the back of the building, where families are tending to their cattle, know what’s coming up next in the schedule.

“I want to make sure all these young people are recognized by name, in addition to receiving a ribbon,” he says, sporting a “signature” cowboy hat that he typically only wears at the fair. “I also need to make sure those who are showing later are aware of where we are in the schedule.”

McCorkle also serves as an ambassador for the fair, and the kids (ages 8-18) who are exhibiting their livestock. “To those of you in the Jim Graham Building this morning, we want to express our appreciation to you for supporting our youth,” McCorkle says into the microphone.

At another point, McCorkle gives a nod to others helping with the shows. “I would be remiss if I didn’t introduce our help in the ring this morning,” he says, before calling out the names of the judges and other volunteers. “We appreciate all the help in the ring.”

For McCorkle, his time at the fair is a chance to give something back. As a child growing up in the small town of Newell, N.C., McCorkle worked with cattle on the farm of a neighbor (known to McCorkle as “Uncle Gene”) and was active with Future Farmers of America and the 4-H. He showed sheep as part of the 4-H lamb program through middle school and high school.

“Knowing what I gained through 4-H and my market lamb project…it allowed me to grow as a person,” he says. “I know that volunteers gave of their time to help me.”

So McCorkle started volunteering at the fair when he was a member of the Animal Science Club as a student at NC State. Through various jobs (including a stint as a deputy fire marshall at NC State), McCorkle has made time to serve as the announcer during livestock shows. Since 2020, he has worked as an agricultural program specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and so helping at the fair is now part of his job. Accounting for a 3-4 year gap at one point, McCorkle figures he’s been announcing shows for about 25 years.

“This is an important piece of the fair,” he says, adding that he manages a small herd of beef cattle on land on the edge of Wake County. “It’s important to take citizens who are not involved with agriculture and expose them to it. It’s an opportunity to see sheep and goats and hogs.”