A veteran of Bartholomew County 4-H Fair swine shows has collected more competition ribbons that she can remember.
At 13, that’s quite an accomplishment for Gracie Greene.
When the Hauser Junior/Senior High student showed her 257-pound pig at Tuesday’s 4-H Fair Barrow Show, she won first place out of 11 competitors. It was the second consecutive year that Greene has earned the top award for raising the champion Berkshire barrow.
But since she had to rush back to the livestock barn to retrieve her 244-pound Chester barrow, Greene didn’t have much time to bask in the glory.
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Minutes later, Greene’s Chester was declared champion over eight other contestants.
One factor is her success is making consistent evaluations of each pig and changing the mix of their feed to suit its needs, Greene said.
Those evaluations are made with the help of her parents and family friends, whose support has been the biggest part of her success, she said.
But her impressive showings are also the result of putting in four hours of work with her animals each day during the summer, Greene said. Those hours are filled with chores such as frequent washing of the pigs to keep them cool, changing out their hay — and even sleeping in the pens with them on occasion, Greene said.
“Raising livestock is almost like a sport,” Greene said. “If you put hard work into a sport, you see it pay off. Same thing here.”
Judging pigs
Two days after 110 young female pigs — called gilts — were judged, about 270 neutered male pigs — known as barrows — competed Tuesday at the 4-H Pavilion. Almost 200 people, including many parents and grandparents, were in the audience.
Most of the 38 classes of competition that feature 12 different breeds of pigs were conducted the same way.
As each class was introduced, all the competitors began walking their pigs around the arena so judge Wade Hendricks of Elwood could examine the animals side-by-side.
Once the barrows were taken back into their individual pavilion pens, Hendricks called each contestant out one-by-one. The judge used a wireless microphone to describe the individual characteristics he observed just before the pigs were taken back to the livestock barn to make room for the next class.
With judging mostly based on muscle tone, Hendricks said he’s mainly interested in examining sections that provide main cuts of meat.
Although older, experienced contestants tend to show confidence while using a thin cane to control their pigs, some younger contestants have difficulty hiding their nervousness and inexperience.
But one exception was Taylor Glick-Scott, 12, who kept a constant and cool presence in the arena while showing her 268-pound Berkshire.
Despite her petite size, the soon-to-be 7th grader at Northside Middle School displayed confidence that comes with four years of showing livestock. Besides keeping cool during competition, Taylor said experience has taught her to never to get too emotionally attached to her animals.
In contrast, her 10-year-old sister, Morgan Glick-Scott, admitted growing quite fond of her 234-pound Spotted barrow during her second year of competition.
“I really get attached to them,” said Morgan, who attends St. Peters Lutheran School. “It’s really hard to see them go.”
Next generation
After spending nine years of his youth in 4-H, Randy Strietelmeier has passed down his appreciation for barrow and gilt competitions to his 12-year-old son, Drew.
Rather than winning ribbons and trophies, the swine shows are mostly about teaching children responsibility, Randy Strietelmeier said.
“But we also come for the experience, for the fun, to be with friends, and to see folks we haven’t seen in a long time,” he said. “What is most pleasing to me is seeing the younger 4-H’ers coming out and trying really hard.”
As he spoke, Strietelmeier proudly looked down upon his 9-year-old daughter, Rian, as she brushed her brother’s 269-pound Duroc barrow for an upcoming competition.
“Before fair time, Rian didn’t want to have to do anything to do with pigs,” the father said. “Now, she’s eager to enter 4-H next year and compete herself.”
The only thing that was noticeably different about this year’s show were the many hand-sanitizing dispensers located both inside and outside the 4-H Pavilion.
They are part of precautions fair officials took after a fair-goer in another Indiana county reportedly got the flu from a pig in a swine barn.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Indiana case is the first human case of the H3N2 flu in Indiana since 2013 and the first in the United States this year.
But after discussing the potential danger with both pork industry and animal health experts, fair officials are confident they have taken all necessary precautions, show coordinator Becky Speaker said.
There has been little concern about potential health hazards expressed by exhibiting families this year, she said.
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TODAY
8 a.m.: 4-H Tractor Contest registration begins
9 a.m.: 4-H Cat & Caged Critter shows (registration at 8:30 a.m.) Pavilion
9 to 10 a.m.: Grand Champion Pictures, David Boll Theatre
9 to 11 a.m.: Open Class Flowers due, Family Arts Building
10 a.m. to noon: Adventure Day Carnival, David Boll Theatre
Noon to 7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstrations, Heritage Building
Noon to 10 p.m.: Lil’ Hands on the Farm, 4-H Community Building, Family Arts and Commercial Buildings open
Noon to 10 p.m.: Midway opens for Kids Day, with $15 wristbands all day and night
1 p.m.: Lil’ Wrangler Sheep Show, 4-H Sheep Show, Pavilion
2 p.m.: Pedal Tractor Pull (registration begins at 1 p.m), $2 entry, east of Farm Bureau Building.
2 to 7 p.m.: Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt starting at Fair Fit Booth in Lil’ Hands on the Farm building
5 to 7 p.m.: Extension Homemakers Puppy Pillow Session, Family Arts Building
5 p.m.: Feel the beat with the Drum Circle from Miller Race Center, David Boll Theatre
6:30 p.m.: Horse & Pony rain date or open arena riding
7 p.m.: Musical talent of 2016 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Queen Bailey Meyer, David Boll Theatre
7 p.m.: Full Throttle Monster Trucks, Grandstand
7 to 7:45 p.m.: Southern Indiana Pipes & Drums, Farm Bureau Building
8 to 9 p.m.: Easterling Magic Show, Farm Bureau Building
THURSDAY
10 a.m.: Lil’ Wrangler & 4-H Dairy Show Judging, Pavilion
12:30 p.m.: Lil’ Wrangler Beef/Starter Calf, Pavilion
1 p.m.: 4-H Beef: (order Heifer & Cow Calf, Starter Calves, Steers), Pavilion
1 to 2 p.m.: Grand Champion Pictures, David Boll Theatre
5 to 10 p.m.: Lil’ Hands on the Farm, 4-H Community Building, Family Arts and Commercial Buildings open
5 p.m.: Midway Opens, $18 Wristbands until close
5 p.m.: 4-H Youth Talent, David Boll Theatre
6 p.m.: Children’s Baking Contest (Registration at 5 p.m.), Family Arts Building
6 p.m.: 4-H Best Dressed Rabbit Competition, Gathering Pavilion
6:30 p.m.: Horse & Pony Parent & Alumni Horse Show
7 p.m.: 4-H Rabbit Race, Gathering Pavilion
7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstration, Heritage Building
7 p.m.: Area teen band Mama’s Headache, David Boll Theatre
7 p.m.: Mud Bog presented by Rhino Linings of Columbus, Grandstand
7 p.m.: Rock-N-Rich The Jukebox Hero Richard Coffey, veteran singing for veterans, Farm Bureau Building
8 p.m.: Working Chute Contest sponsored by Bartholomew County FFA Alumni, Pavilion
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