Jared and Jimmy Harrell looked right at home Friday as they groomed one of their calves in preparation for exhibition at the N.C. State Fair.

As Jared, a freshman in animal science, combed the black feeder calf’s coarse fur and his father fussed over its tail, they appeared remarkably similar to the hundreds of other contestants who came from around the state to prove that their livestock was the best.

But after more careful observation, there was one thing that made this father-son duo a little unusual.

Above their heads, swaying slightly in the chilly breeze that swept through the open doors of the Jim Graham building, a modest sign showcased their business.

“Snow Hill Farms,” it read.

But the weird thing about the business isn’t the name, but the owner.

That’s because it’s the 18-year-old Jared, not Jimmy, who owns the business here.

Before Jared even started his farm, he had been entering cattle into 4-H competitions since fifth or sixth grade, which he had always enjoyed.

But about three years ago, a rancher he knew let him borrow a heifer to enter into competition. Jared spent the next six months training the calf and preparing her for competition.

“She became a good heifer and I kind of got attached to her,” Jared said.

Then, influenced by his family’s support, he got an idea.

“They’ve got these TV shows about cows,” he said. “Me and my dad have always had a close bond and we used to sit down together and watch the shows. It really brought out something in me to make me get something like that.”

Every year, Jared said he’s spent time working for his father, a contractor.During that time, he said, he’s put a little money away every year.

So when it came time for him to return the heifer to the rancher, Jared asked if he could buy her. The man agreed, and at 15 Jared became the owner of his very first heifer — at a price of about $1,500.

It was a great feeling, he said.

“I just kept going out there and looking at her,” he said.

Snow Hill Farms was born.

For the past three years, Jared has spent his money and his energy developing the six acres of farmland he rents from his grandfather. He now has several barns and eight cows, enough to really begin the goal of his endeavor: to breed and sell show calves to buyers interested in exhibition.

Although he said he’s interested in seeing his herd get “as big as it could be,” his ideal number is about 100 to 120 heads.

“Each time I kept saving and saving so I can buy more.” he said. “All the cows I’ve earned are mine.”

He did say however, that he’s already spent around $9,000 on cows alone, and that means he’s making it his goal right now to sell as many calves as possible.

“He’s in the hole right now,” Jimmy said.

But managing a business isn’t easy, especially when you’re about 150 miles away working on a degree. That’s where Jimmy comes in.

“My dad is the overseer of my calfs while I’m gone,” Jared said.

He said his father stays in constant communication with Jared while he’s away and checks on his herd two to three times a day.

“That’s why I get paid the big bucks,” Jimmy said with a laugh.

Jared said he does do a few things to make management easier, one of which is breeding his cattle to give birth to their calves at specific times when he’s at home.

“I’ve bred them to [give birth] during Christmas break, he said. “I’ve got them on schedule.”

Ultimately however, Jared said he’s working to become a veterinarian. At that point, he said he hopes business will be booming enough to take care of itself.

“I’m doing my business because I love it,” Jared said. “When I become a vet, I want this to be a hobby.”

In the meantime, Jimmy said he’ll be happy to help do what he can to help the business.

“I’m very proud of all he’s been able to accomplish at such a young age,” Jimmy said.