Source: NCDA&CS, 6/15/15

Livestock Legislative Day, a day-long celebration of the importance of animal agriculture to the state’s $78 billion agriculture and agribusiness economy, sponsored by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, the Cooperative Council of North Carolina, the Dairy Industry Promotions Committee and the N.C. Pork Council.

Tuesday, June 16
8 a.m. -- The N.C. Pork Council will provide breakfast for legislators and their staff on the Halifax Mall.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- The N.C. Cattlemen’s Association will offer lunch for legislators and their staff.
Noon -- The 16th annual milk-chugging contest will be held at noon on the North Portico of the Legislative Building.

Teams of three legislators representing the Senate and House will compete for prize money on behalf of a charity of their choice. The House All Stars team consists of Rep. William D. Brisson, Rep. Bob Steinburg and Rep. Jonathan C. Jordan. Representing the Senate Super Sippers will be Sen. Andrew Brock, Sen. Ralph Hise and Sen. Tom McInnis. The House will chug on behalf of the N.C. FFA Foundation, and the Senate will compete for the N.C. 4-H Foundation, with the first-place team receiving $200, and the second-place team receiving $100.
The public is invited to watch the milk-chugging contest and enjoy free ice cream afterwards. Milk will be provided by Milkco, and Harris-Teeter will provide ice cream.

Hogs and dairy and beef cattle account for more than a quarter of the state’s agricultural cash receipts. North Carolina is the second-largest producer of hogs in the United States, contributing more than 13 percent of the national supply. The state’s ranchers raise 364,000 beef cows and 46,000 dairy cows. North Carolina leads the Southeast for most milk production per cow, and more than 100 million gallons of milk are produced annually. In addition, the N.C. dairy industry produces 15.9 million gallons of ice cream annually. More information about the state’s livestock industry is available at www.ncagr.gov/markets/livestock.