Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted two longtime North Carolina farmers to the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame over the weekend. The two inductees, longtime dairy goat exhibitor Marjorie Burton and veteran dairy farmer Mike Corn, came during the fair’s opening weekend festivities. The induction was in recognition of their decades of support for the fair and the livestock industry in Western North Carolina.
“We are fortunate to have many agricultural families that put their heart and soul into the livestock programs and the Mountain State Fair,” Troxler said. “Marjorie Burton and Mike Corn are a big part of what makes these programs a success. I am honored to present them with this award and thank them for their support.”
Burton Recognized for Dairy Goat Excellence
Marjorie Burton, of Leicester, began Fire Pink Hollar with her husband Leonard in the late 1970s, raising up to 50 dairy goats. She began showing goats at the Mountain State Fair in its inaugural year in 1994. Burton has won numerous awards, including premier breeder and exhibitor honors for the Oberhasli and La Mancha dairy goat shows.
Burton has been instrumental in improving the Oberhasli breed. She began showing that breed shortly after it was recognized by the American Goat Association in 1979. She also served in leadership roles with the Piedmont Dairy Goat Association and has mentored young exhibitors, including her granddaughter, Tiffany.
“Everyone who knows Margie will tell you that she is a stable force at the N.C. Mountain State Fair and that they look forward to seeing her each year,” Troxler said. “She has made a lasting positive impact in her community and for the dairy goat industry in North Carolina.”
Corn Honored for Lifelong Dairy Work and Education
Mike Corn, of Mills River, has managed the Biltmore Estate’s Jersey herd at his farm, Small Acres Dairy, for decades. At the fair, Corn is best known for providing the cows for the popular Mooternity Ward exhibit, where fairgoers can witness live calf births and learn about the dairy industry.
“When this exhibit was imagined more than a decade ago, likely no one knew how popular and beloved it would become,” Troxler said. “Mike is the one to make sure all the pieces fit together.”
Along with his wife Mary Louise, Corn was also active in the dairy show, providing animals for youth exhibitors and mentoring young dairy judges. His long-standing contributions have previously earned him several honors, including Dairyman of the Year in 1994, the Bill Martin Award in 2008, and induction into the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2018.
“Mike embodies what it means to give back to the land and the people around him,” Troxler said. “We are proud to have him as part of our N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.” The Livestock Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the success of the fair and the broader agricultural community in Western North Carolina.