The 2021 barrow show and showmanship competition at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair attracted about 175 entries – down from 223 that were judged in 2019.
"Overall, we’re down by about 80 head of barrows and gilts (from 2019)," 4-H swine superintendent Jason Harper said Tuesday during this year’s show.
One contributing factor for the fewer entries boils down to cost and supply, 9-year 4-H member Harley Lowe said.
"All of the prices were going up," the 17-year-old Columbus East High School student explained. "It was hard to get both feed and bedding, because there seemed to be a shortage on so many things."
Nevertheless, in her ninth year of showing pigs, Lowe’s 208-pound Tamworth hog was chosen over five other competitors to win a class championship.
And in terms of levels of enthusiasm among participating 4-H members, Harper says it’s just as high as it ever was.
"They are all back in the groove," Harper said.
Also back in full force were the spectators in the 4-H Pavilion. At the busiest part of the four-hour barrow competition, about 270 friends and relatives filled the recently-renovated facility.
The barrow show and showmanship competition may be remembered this year for an unusually high number of younger 4-H members who won championship trophies over older and more experienced teens.
For example, 9-year-old Brody Hege is a first-year club member who had two of the 31 entries in the Duroc class.
The Hope Elementary student came away with both champion and reserve champion trophies in the same division.
After obtaining the animals from a uncle in January, Brody said his family let the two pigs stay in their garage until they were large enough to move to the farm a month later.
"That’s when we started working on them," Brody said. "It was about two hours a day, but definitely worth the effort."
His father, Cody Hege, said his son will retain the money that he will earn during Saturday’s livestock auction. While some of the profit will be used to buy another pig for next year, the father said some will also go into a college savings account.
Another young winner was 12-year-old Damyon Hunter, who received a championship trophy when his 269-pound hog was chosen over 15 other entries in the Berkshire division. A student at St. Peter’s Lutheran School, Damyon said he worked extremely hard during the last week leading them up to the fair.
"We would walk them twice a day, and usually rinse and oil them three to four times a day," Damyon said. "We also had to clean out the pens almost on a daily basis."
The 4-H member said he wouldn’t mind compensating his parents for their expenses in raising the barrow.
"Just as long as I get to show a good pig, they can have all the money they want," Damyon said.
Competing against 14 others, Ellie Burbrink took home the championship trophy in the Hampshire division. The 11-year-old White Creek Lutheran student, who has been in 4-H for three years, said she will sell the animal Saturday, and either use the money to buy another pig, or start saving for a car.
The judge for Tuesday’s show was Seth Keplinger, the owner and operator of a large hog operation in Springfield, Ohio, who has judged barrow shows in over 20 different states.
"The biggest thing for me is structural correctness," Keplinger said. "I look at all that mass in terms of muscle, as well as bone and foot size."
Keplinger says he also judges how each human contestant handles unexpected problems. Because the weight of each entry ranged from 172 to 323 pounds on Tuesday, adult staff with protective gear were in the ring to ensure no child was injured.
There were some older teens who saw their experience pay off such as Kale Schwartzkopf, who took home a championship trophy for his 247-pound Poland barrow.
The Hauser High School student, who has been in 4-H since third grade, said he just purchased a truck with the money he has received from earlier livestock auctions.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Today’s fair schedule” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
8 a.m. — 4-H Tractor Contest Registration begins
8:30 a.m. — 4-H Cat and Caged Critter registration, show to Follow
9 to 11 a.m. — Open Class Flowers due – Family Arts Building
10 a.m. to noon — Elite Cheer – 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
2 to 10 p.m. — Midway opens – Kids Day – $18 wristbands all day and night (no age limit)
1 p.m. — Lil’ Wrangler Sheep Show, 4-H Sheep Show – Pavilion
2 p.m. — Pedal Tractor Pull – East of Farm Bureau Building; registration begins at 1 p.m. $2 entry
3 to 4 p.m. — Adventure Day Carnival – David Boll Theatre
5 to 7 p.m. — Extension Homemakers, Puppy Pillow Session, Family Arts Building
6 p.m. — Kids Carnival Games and Farm Trivia, Farm Bureau Building
6:30 p.m. — Horse & Pony rain date or open arena riding
7 p.m. — Night Owl Country Band, David Boll Theatre
7 p.m. — Indiana Truck Pulling Association, Grandstand
8 to 9 p.m. Easterling Magic Show, Farm Bureau Building
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=” 4-H barrow show champions” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Grand Champion Born & Raised Barrow: Damyon Hunter
Reserve Grand Champion Born & Raised Barrow: Josie Burbrink
Grand Champion Barrow: Gracie Green (cross)
Reserve Grand Champion Barrow: Makena Jackson (cross)
Champion and Reserve Champ: Gracie Greene and Makena Jackson
Heavy-weight Cross Champ /Reserve Champ: Makena Jackson
Third Overall Barrow: Brody Hege (Buroc)
Fourth Overall Barrow: Damyan Hunter (Berkshire)
Fifth Overall Barrow: Josie Burbrink (Yorkshire)
— Results provided by the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair
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