Swine competition keeps competitors busy

MOSES LAKE — It was that tricky moment in swine competition, when the pig is either on its way to the ring or on its way back to the pen. Pigs in transit roam the aisles of the barn, and sometimes pigs have a mind of their own. The pig was on its way back from competition, and just would not go in the pen, to the visible frustration of its owner. Adults and other kids tried to help, and finally the pig had enough. Squealing and snorting the pig tried to make a run for it, scattering people as it ran - a 200-plus pound pig in motion is a lot of pig. But in the end its attempt to escape led right to its pen. It’s like that in the swine barn. Swine competition is one of the more popular at the Grant County Fair. The swine barn is bustling all day long, with pigs, with exhibitors and their parents, with 4-H and FFA leaders. Kids don’t just drop the pig off at the barn and stop by once or twice a day - far from it. All exhibitors must pull barn duty. And pigs need some babysitting. It being August, it’s hot, and pigs don’t do well in heat. “They can’t sweat, so if you don’t keep them cool they overheat,” explained CJ Schultz, Ephrata. For CJ that means a spray bottle and pig-sitting, squirting his pig (and his sister’s) regularly when the temperature starts to climb. The barn is an open-sided building, but it does have a cooling system. A swamp cooler, fans, misters, all designed to keep the pigs cool. Some kids add their own fans and that helps, said Jaiden Hill, Quincy. And what are the characteristics of a prizewinning pig? “You want them short, you want them to have wide shoulders, a wide back and big butt,” CJ said. “It really helps to pick a good pig from the start,” Jaiden said. She takes pictures of prospects, front and back, on her phone and analyzes them before making her purchase. The best pigs have “good hams and good shoulders,” she said. After that, it’s a matter of maintaining the good start. “Feed them lots of protein. I’ll feed mine eggs,” Jaiden said. Wednesday was market competition, with fitting and showing Thursday. The fair continues through Saturday.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.