I'm sitting in a hotel room in Minneapolis watching the snow fall on a blustery day with a -10 windchill while Scott attends the School Board Conference. What better time to transport myself back to July and the County Fair and 80 degree days?!? Plus, I might be missing my kiddos just a smidge and sorting through all these pictures puts a smile on my face!
So, back to July... Swine check in day was on a Thursday, so we were up and out to the farm bright and early. The pigs were happy to see the kids!
Kate is giving Cow a pep talk about how nice he's going to get on the trailer.
Once we arrived at the fairgrounds we had to unload the pigs and weigh each one.
Buddy was 235 pounds - he was the largest of all our pigs.
Then we walked them to the pen that would be their home during their stay at the fair.
Safe and sound in the pen - but still so dirty!
Showing swine isn't just about being able to get in the ring and walk your pig, you must also complete a swine interview with a judge. Questions range from the breed of your pig, to weight, to their feed, to cuts of meat, etc.
Keeley
Kate
Jake
Then it was our turn to wash our pigs:
Scrub those legs and tails, Jake!
Just like kids they love to drink the water from the hose!
Look at those cute, clean piggies!
Anyone who knows Keeley knows that she has her own way of doing things! Have you ever visited the horse barn at the fair and saw the beautifully decorated signs with the horses names and info about them? Well, Keeley wants a horse, but if showing pigs is what she's got for now, she's going to show it like a horse. She spent hours making an awesome, colorful sign with each of the pig's names on it, whether they are a barrow or a gilt, and their ear tag numbers.
It looked just perfect!
Kate enjoyed introducing her friends to her pigs. She always seems to be talking to them...wish I could hear that conversation 💚
Friday morning it was time to show! Kate was VERY nervous about going into the ring for the first time.
Swine interview ribbons were given out before the show started.
Keeley received Grand Champion Swine Interview, Jake first, and Kate received a Cloverbud ribbon. Side note - As a mom it is very hard to look at this picture of Kate - This day was all she had looked forward to and practiced for for months. She was scared and nervous, but I knew if we didn't help her get through it she would end up disappointed in herself for not trying.
As a Cloverbud you have to have an adult in the ring with you and I knew Dad could help build up her confidence and help her finish what she'd worked so long for.
She survived! We couldn't be more proud of her! Scott & I weren't showing pigs when we were 7!!!
Keeley and Wanda
This is one of my favorite pictures! I love that showing animals is something our family does together and is creating lifelong memories.
There is a lot that goes into showing swine. They need to keep their pig moving. They need to try and keep the pig between themselves and the judge. They need to make eye contact with the judge. They can't run if their pig runs...It's a lot to remember when you're first starting out! The judge will also visit with each shower about their pig while all this is going on in the ring.
Since Kate only had one pig to show and Jake and Keeley had multiple, she played with the ones who were left in the pen. These photos melt my heart!
Just like the big kids with her brush in one pocket and her ribbon in the other!
Last up was the State Fair line up where the judge choses which pigs will move on to the State Fair. Jake chose to show Chip - and he earned his first State Fair trip!!!
We ended up bringing home plenty of ribbons for our pigs!
And plenty of dirty clothes! This is what our garage looked like pretty much every day of the fair!
Showing is hard work and requires afternoon naps!
Saturday morning was the 4H and FFA livestock auction. Each 4H or FFA shower gets to show one animal and local businesses bid on the animal. A portion of the money that is bid goes to the 4H Federation or FFA and the remainder of the money goes to the shower. In this picture Jake is also getting some advice from a long time friend and fellow pig lover.
Jake auctioned off Chip under the watchfull eye of one of his Ag instructors.
Keeley auctioned off Wanda.
Thank you to G&M Runge (Grandma & Grandpa) for "buying" our pigs! (No, the buyer does not get the animal - it is a donation.)
Pigs wear this girl out!
Piggies love their squirt bottle water!
I think the kids wore the pigs out!
The animals have all been loaded up and now it's time to clean the barns.
Katelyn jumped right in and grabbed a broom and got to work!
Many hands make the job easier!
All cleaned up! See you at the County Fair next year!
