"Hog Heaven"

Dixie Junior

Livestock Show

 2011

Every year for the past 6 years our family has raised hogs for 4-H and FFA clubs. Our 4-H club is called "Hog Heaven", named by Kelly Ashcroft who used to show hogs, but now show steers.   Each year we learn a lot, and have a really great time.  Austin started out when he was 11 and has competed every year since.  Each year is filled with drama, sometimes the pigs don't make weight, sometimes we don't make any money, or go in the hole.  Some years the buyer forgets to come, or someone gets hurt, but we continue to look forward to the show regardless.  In the end it is alway a good experience. 


This year was probably our best year yet. All of the hogs made weight, which is at least 220 pounds. This is such a huge relief.  In years past if your hog did not make weight, you could show for showmanship, but not for livestock judging, which meant you couldn't sell on Saturday.  If you brought your underweight hog to the show, you still have to butcher the hog because Utah law says that you can't take the hog home from the show because of the threat of a swine virus that kills the hogs.  This year they changed the rule, but we still stressed about the pigs making weight to enable us to sell the animals at the end of the show.  We entered four pigs/kids this year and it was really good to see them all participate. We also had Carson Bjelland, a friend of Cody's participate with us this year for his first year. We are so proud of all of the kids and their hard work getting ready for the show as well as their performances there. Be ready for pictures galore!!


Thursday:  Weigh in and Showmanship competition.
Here the kids get judged on their showmanship skills.


This is Carson and his pig Peaches.  We couldn't fit all of our hogs in our trailer, and his too
so we took ours to the show first, then were going to go and get his (we had until noon to do this).
Carson got really nervous and impatient so he and his mom rigged up their trailer "hillbilly" style so
he could get his hog to the show early.  I now know Jenny (Carsons mom) can do anything.




Setting up for the show.  Dalyon has a portable waterer in his hands.



Carson and Cody all set up and the pigs are getting comfortable.



Austin studying what was in our feed for the showmanship judging part of the show. 




Austin showing his pig.  He made it back to the star class and took
11th overall. 





Mady in the showmanship round.  She took Intermediate Reserve!! 
(That is second place overall)  She smiled and did exactly what
she was supposed to.  She did SSSOOOOOO GREAT!!!! 





Cody in Showmanship. Doesn't he look handsome?



Dalyon in Showmanship.
 He took eighth overall all in his age class making it to the
star class.   Good job Dalyon!!!

 Friday:  Livestock Judging

In preparation for the show, the kids have to wash and shave their pigs.  The shaving we did at home a week ago, and before each show they have to wash and brush them.  This IS a beauty pageant after all.

The kids get so attached to their animals.  The hogs don't
care if they snuggle with them.  They are clean and in shavings.
The kids have a great time when they aren't showing.  They take
good care of the animals, and also have squirt bottle wars, eat greasy
hamburgers and fries, and really have a good time. 

 Friday: Livestock judging

Dalyon having his hog  judged. 

 

He took fifth overall in his weight class and received a blue
ribbon for his hog.

Cody received a blue ribbon for his hog.

Mady received a blue ribbon for her hog and got 4th overall in her weight class.

Austin received a blue ribbon and was reserve (2nd place) in his
weight class.  Way to go Austin!!

Friday Night Award Ceremony

Dalyon received a cool t-shirt for making it to the star class
for showmanship.  Good job Dalyon!



Mady received a $100 savings bond for being awarded Intermediate reserve
in showmanship.  Way to go Mady!!



Mady displays her cool shirt and certificate, as well as her excitement.




The Dance

 

The dance is always one of the highlights of the show.  We all get out get a little crazy.  I love to do the Macarana and line dances with the kids.  Doug even got into the fun and danced some slow dances with Cami and I.  It took Cody a while to get up the courage, but he finally asked a cute girl from Veyo to dance.  He did a few swing moves and says he "wowed" her.  Way to go Cody!  Austin is doing a candlestick move with Cami  in the pictures above.  It ended up being a fabulous night.

The final day of the show is the auction.  This is a stressful day for us because we really want to recoup our money from raising the hogs, and if possible make a profit.  This year we are really grateful to have broken even.  It cost us about $450 a hog to raise them for the show, and each of us got at least that.  The economy really tightened things up for everyone and fortunately  we were able to get a buyer and sell.  What is the most important though is that the kids learn something and have a chance to compete and be good sports.  The livestock show is very similar to life.  You have your success's, and disappointments, sometimes you sell high, or could possibly go in the hole, you are subject to others opinions and judgements, and politics.  But in the end what matters most is how you handle each situation, and how you feel inside about your performance, knowing that it is all for our growth and progress and that we are always OK, no matter what happens. Something I hope we can alsways remember.