Oink! Pig showmanship competition is a great learning experience for 4-H youth
By Jennifer Kneuss
August 9, 2011
526
Summary: Tuesdays Hog Showmanship competition at the Holmes County Fair lasted for close to five hours, but 4-Hers enjoyed cooler weather during it as well as plenty of helpful pointers from the guest judge, Don VerHoff of Ottawa.
Derek Burke sat atop the railing in the swine barn at the Holmes County Fair, waiting to show his pig, Dynamite, in the junior showmanship competition. Both he and the pig were shined up and ready to go. Burke is going into 6th grade at Walnut Creek School, and has been showing pigs for three years.
To get ready for showmanship, you have to feed him, make sure his pens clean, walk him, work with him in opening games. He had a bath about six oclock this morning, said Burke, who admitted that he hadnt had time for a bath himself. Last year I got second place in my class. Dynamite weighs 260 pounds. Burke is part of the Skillful Squeezers 4-H club. In our club, we also have goats, beef, and dairy. Im taking a dairy steer, three goats, and a dairy heifer, too. Burke said that he and his older sister, RaKayla , have a total of sixteen animal projects at this years fair.
Denzil Burke is Dereks father, and is a Senior Fair Director.
I help out everywhere, although Im chairman at the llama barn this year. But we do anything else that needs to be done.
Hog judge was Don Verhoff, from Ottawa, who is no newcomer to judging, as he was part of the 1976 Ohio State University national champion livestock team. He is currently president of the Putnam County Fair Board, and a coach, teacher, and farmer. Verhoff was very conscientious about telling the 4-H participants ways they could improve in showing their animals.
You need to have good eye contact with me at all times, and be intense, but not too intense, he advised. And dont forget to shut those gates behind you!
Barry Sprangs daughter was competing in the showmanship classes. Madison did all right today. This judge is very good. He takes his time, he doesnt race through it, and he knows what hes talking about. Hes very informative. Im very impressed with what hes doing. For these younger kids, who havent been in very long, its a good learning process. Theyre learning a lot. Its good that they bring the older kids in first, so the younger kids can watch them and learn.
John Millers dad, Firman, was watching his son intently as he guided his pig around the ring.
I think hes doing pretty good out there, said Firman. Hes trying hard.
John Millers persistence paid off, because he won Class II of Junior Showmanship, and his grin was wide as he received his blue ribbon.
Junior Fair queen attendant Christina Keim, 18, showed her hog in senior showmanship, and then went to work to record the results of the pig show at the podium.
Theres a lot of work involved. We work every show, and help pass out ribbons. I ran because Ive been involved with the fair since Ive been able to walk. I have older siblings who participated in the fair, and I love it, its a good time. Even though its really muddy out there, its still fun, said Keim, who brought a market hog, market turkey, and pen of three broilers to the fair. Actual hog judging is tonight, and I hope to do better with my hog then.
