By: Christian Williams
Swine shows were first introduced to Georgia in 1990 when Georgia held their first national fair. Although, swine shows began on local farms in rural communities where farmers would come together to discuss which hogs had the best breeding qualities and were market quality.
Shelly Crosby, a native to Georgia, has many years of experience in the swine showing industry. She explained that, throughout her youth, she raised hogs for her local fair. Her daughter, Ella, who is four years old, has decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and is currently the youngest swine competitor in Pearson, Georgia.
Although Ella may be the youngest competitor, she does not let the competition intimidate her or the 250-pound hogs. She demonstrated her strength and knowledge at the Pearson County show for pigs, where she won 3rd place in the showmanship category with only two years of experience from ”jackpotshows.”
Raising an animal is hard work, especially for someone as young as Ella, but it is a great way to learn how to commit to a project and develop leadership skills.
Crosby said, “[Ella] has learned about responsibility, and shewasn’t scared of it at all, which is surprising because she’s tiny.She learned about feeding it, cleaning out its pen, and how to train it. It disciplined her because it’s not like a regular sport.”
To raise a hog for market quality, you must learn feeding rations, how to administer medication, how to train a hog, and determinethe right amount of exercise the hog needs for it to develop a muscular physique. Raising a hog can be a solo project, but it can also serve as a family bonding event.
Crosby said, “To me, I’m really big in family. My whole family gets to do this together! I get to spend time with my daddy when we go to these shows. But also, Ella gets to learn at an early age,start to finish. She went out there and beat kindergarteners and first graders because she took it seriously and tried really hard. She got to realize that if you work hard at it, at the end you can get rewarded.”
In swine shows, the pigs are separated into classes so the judge can study the hogs thoroughly. The hogs are divided by weight and are placed as Division Champion, Reserve Champion, and Grand Champion. Typically, a judge will evaluate the degree of muscling, the hog’s size, volume, degree of leanness, trimness, condition, and the hog’s overall structure and balance.
To place well in showmanship, a judge will look for how well you command your hog, how well it responds to your non-verbal instructions, the amount of eye contact you can makewith the judge while leading your hog around the arena, and the placement of your hand. You must lead your hog properly with a series of taps from a hog whip and control your hog accordingly.
Overall, swine shows have greatly changed over time, but they are still used as a learning experience, a way to engage youth in the agriculture industry, and a way for farmers to auction their hogs for a profit.