By Jordan Studer
jstuder@wbcowqel.com
Swine showmanship was on display in the show arena Monday morning at the Crawford County Fair, but it was a young girl who stole the stage.
Jenna Siegel, who competed in and won the Intermediate Division, couldn’t hold back the tears when she shared with those in attendance what showing hogs has meant to her.
“It has made me grow up so much in the past few years, and just teaches you responsibility and respect for others and it just means everything to me and I can’t put into words how much I love this. I’ve done this for as long as I can remember. If you do not show hogs, I highly encourage it because it does so much for you,” said Siegel, a member of the Sulphur Springs Star Farmers. “It teaches you responsibility and trust… and it’s just a really good way to grow up and figure out what you need to do in this world whether is advocating for agriculture, whether it’s showing hogs around the country or whether its learning what it feels like to lose. Showing hogs means everything to me and if you don’t do it then I definitely think you should.”
Jessica Millenbaugh, member of North Robinson Blue Ribbons 4-H Club, was the champion of the senior division. Definitely not a rookie at this, Millenbaugh has been in 4-H for fourteen years. She says that her biggest accomplishment was not “learning how to take care of these animals, get them as best as we can. Because there’s just so much that you can learn, and there’s still a lot more that we can learn. And I just think the biggest accomplishment is figuring out how to show them, how to prepare them, how to get them there so they are ready.”
Although master of many trades, showing hogs, sheep, and cattle, when asked what made her most nervous about the Showman of Showman on Friday evening Millenbaugh replied, “I’m used to handling big animals, but the animal I’m nervous about is the horse.”
Lexi Wood won first place in the junior division.
“I’ve been showing pigs for three years. I think it’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of work, but it always pays off to be a fun time and you have to make the best of it because some nights aren’t as fun, but you just gotta have fun because then it’s over, and then it gets sad when it’s over.”
She really enjoyed her pig this year mentioning how, “he (the pig)was a lot of fun and he was really goofy. When he was little he would just hide himself and when you would come in he would pop out of the straw. And he had a really funny personality.”
So, pigs like to play hide-and-go seek too apparently, who knew?
The Jackpot Show and Carcass show followed the conclusion of the showmanship.
Senior Showmanship:
Champion: Jessica Millenbaugh
Reserve Champion: Tyler Niese
3. Megan Gwirtz
4. Adam Widman
5. Quenten Stuckey
Intermediate Showmanship:
1. Jenna Siegel
2. Addie Wood
3. Lori Millenbaugh
4. Lyndie Williams
5. Kelsie Williams
Junior Showmanship:
1. Lexi Wood
2. Brandon Vent
3. Atley Crabaugh