By Jordan Studer
Monday morning 4-H swine owners took to the arena to compete for Champion and Reserve Champion titles in the Swine Showmanship. Three separate age classes Senior, Intermediate, and Junior were judged on how well they were able to flow and work with their hog.
Lori Millenbaugh, a nine-year member of North Robinson Blue Ribbons 4-H club, took home the title of Senior Swine Showmanship Champion with her pig, Duke. Millenbaugh has taken pigs during her entire time as a 4-H member, but this year was her first Swine Showmanship Champion title. Winning Senior Swine Showmanship Reserve Champion was Taylor Niese.
Millenbaugh explained that being able to win the Senior division of the Swine Showmanship took a lot of hard work and preparation.
“All of it takes practice… Just working hard every night at home, getting them out in the yard and walking them for ten, fifteen minutes. Getting them out more in the hot parts so they get used to showing in the hot at fair and they don’t get mad and just stop showing for ya,” Millenbaugh explained.
In the Intermediate division, Allison Scott was deemed Intermediate Swine Showmanship Champion showing her pig, Frank. Taking home Intermediate Swine Showmanship Reserve Champion was Lexie Wood.
The judge of the competition, Dan Forebost, explained that both Scott and Wood were equally good at showing and it was hard for him to choose between the two. After making his final decision, Forebost explained that his final decision was that Scott was a little calmer and relaxed while showing and Wood was a bit quick with her whip.
Scott, member of Mt. Zion Buckeyes 4-H Club, has shown pigs for five years and recalls back on how much work it has taken to be able to win showmanship in the Intermediate division.
“It’s a lot of hard work. I got them out almost every day since the beginning of June. I was out there working them in the sun, helping to get them color and to get them used to the whip because you don’t want them to run off in the arena,” Scott said.
In the Junior division, Mallorie Williams member of Mt. Zion Buckeyes 4-H Club, won the Junior Swine Showmanship Champion award with her pig, Blueberry. Paityn Hafner was able to snag Junior Swine Showmanship Reserve Champion.
Williams explained that this year marks her second year in Junior Fair and first year to win Junior Swine Showmanship, as she got Reserve Champion in the Junior Swine Showmanship last year.
When asking Williams about her feelings after being named Showmanship Champion, she smiled and expressed her gratitude in a very poised manner.
“I think I was very fortunate, and I’m really happy about it,” Williams said.
Willams explained that she too had to put in a lot of work to train Blueberry and fully build their relationship as pig and trainer.
“You first have to train them to walk properly and get their head up, and walk on your command…and you have to feed them properly and teach them how to get a bath, get cleaned off, and just enjoy their environment,” Williams described.