Ephrata teen shows pigs for the first time

MOSES LAKE - Lexie Pope, 16, showed her pigs named Captain Dan and Jenny for the first time at the Grant County Fair.

The pigs are named after the main characters from the popular 1994 movie "Forrest Gump."

Pope, of Ephrata, was introduced to pig showing by her friend with four years of experience, Naomi Kooistra.

Pope says she has plenty of other friends in the Desert Wranglers 4-H Club who are also willing to answer her questions.

"Naomi did a lot for me and I can ask anyone at the club and they'll help me out," Pope commented.

She learned about showing from watching class last year.

"It's a good way to earn money and have fun," Pope said.

She completed market and fitting and showing classes. She expects to sell her pigs for a total of $1,400, or about $700 each.

Her money will be used for gas for her new car and college, she said

What surprised her most about her fair experience was the amount of work involved.

Pigs are fed in the morning and evening and stalls must be cleaned.

Pope was on barn duty Thursday. Her responsibilities were sweeping sidewalks and spraying the pigs with water to cool them.

"That's pretty much what we do at barn duty, spray and sweep," Pope explained.

At first, she became involved with showing for the money.

She might be sad about selling the animals, but the money is worth it, she said.

Pope says she bonded with the animals. They would always come running when they saw her, which they've done for others, she said.

She did better than she thought, as judges awarded her pigs two blue ribbons.

She might have done better, but Captain Dan decided to be uncooperative and walk away from the judge.

The pig kept going into pens nearby and wasn't listening to her, she said.

Even so, Pope plans on showing pigs at the fair next year.